The amount of hake caught and brought ashore in Namibia fell by more than half between the third and fourth quarters of 2025.
This is according to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s latest agriculture and fishing indicators statistical bulletin.
The bulletin shows that hake catches dropped from 40 005t in the third quarter to 18 436t in the fourth quarter.
This is a decline of 21 569 tonnes (t).
The figures also indicate that hake catches declined throughout 2025. Fishing vessels landed 75 466t in the first quarter before catches fell in the following quarters. Overall catches of quota species also dropped.
“The total of quota species during the fourth quarter of 2025 amounted to 53 392t,” the agency says.
This was down from the 68 700t recorded in the third quarter. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, total quota species catches fell by 20.8%, from 67 382t to 53 392t.
Horse mackerel remained the most caught species during the fourth quarter, with 30 896t. Hake followed with 18 436t, while crab catches reached 1 961t.
Despite the decline in catches, Namibia earned more from fish exports during the quarter.
“Export earnings for fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates for the fourth quarter of 2025 were valued at N$2.9 billion.”
This was 9.8% higher than in the same period in 2024.
Spain remained Namibia’s biggest export market, taking 32.3% of total fish exports. Frozen hake fillets were the main product exported to Spain.
Zambia accounted for 26.7% of exports, while South Africa accounted for 9.2%.
The report also shows that fish imports increased during the fourth quarter.
“The import bill for fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates stood at N$136.9 million,” the bulletin adds.
This compares to N$100.4 million recorded during the fourth quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, South Africa supplied half of Namibia’s imported fish products, accounting for 50.1% of the total imports. Spain followed with 21.7%, while the Falkland Islands accounted for 10.1%.
Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations chairperson Matti Amukwa yesterday said the decline was expected because the fourth quarter marks the end of the fishing season.
“The fourth quarter is the last quarter of the fishing season and most of the quota has been landed already,” Amukwa said.
He said the lower catches are not expected to have a major impact on the industry.
“Companies are scaling down operations, planning for the next season and doing maintenance on the processing facilities and equipment,” he said.
Amukwa said export earnings increased because Namibia produces high-quality fish products and processors also import raw material for processing before exporting it.
