Govt to draft new marine policy

THE Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is scheduled to table a new marine resources policy in the National Assembly for discussion soon.

The Ministry says it is necessary to revamp its policy considering the changes the sector has undergone since independence. Overfishing and the depletion of stocks since 1991 because of poor fisheries management have contributed to the formulation of new policy.Cabinet gave its approval of the document, “Namibia’s Marine Resources Policy:Towards responsible development and management of the marine resources sector, 2004” at its 20th ordinary meeting on August 3.The policy follows on from a white paper published in 1991 titled “Toward Responsible Development of the Fisheries Sector” introduced by the former Fisheries Minister Helmut Angula.The new policy retains all the key elements of the white paper, but has also introduced several new concepts and considerations.Overfishing and the depletion of stocks since 1991 because of poor fisheries management have contributed to the formulation of new policy.Cabinet gave its approval of the document, “Namibia’s Marine Resources Policy:Towards responsible development and management of the marine resources sector, 2004” at its 20th ordinary meeting on August 3.The policy follows on from a white paper published in 1991 titled “Toward Responsible Development of the Fisheries Sector” introduced by the former Fisheries Minister Helmut Angula.The new policy retains all the key elements of the white paper, but has also introduced several new concepts and considerations.