Hake fisheries get TAC breather

NAMIBIA’S hake industry has been given an increase of about eight to ten per cent on its 2010-2011 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) – increasing the tonnage from 135 000 in the 2009-2010 season to about 145 000 tonnes.

As a result, according to the spokesperson for the Namibian Hake Association (NHA), Peya Hitula, the full operation of the main factories has been secured until the end of the quota year.’This proves once again the commitment of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources towards employment and economical viability of the fishing industry in Namibia,’ said Hitula.He told The Namibian that better catches during economically difficult times were motivation enough for the industry to request Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Abraham Iyambo for additional quotas.During a presentation in January, the hake industry illustrated how the global crisis and the strengthening of the Namibia dollar had seriously affected the revenue of the companies and how only the improvement in catch rates helped to mitigate the damage to the economic viability of the sector. This improvement in catch rates during the 2009-2010 season is largely perceived as the result of the sound management of the marine resources by our Ministry, he said.’It becomes a financial issue and within this industry the hake sector is the biggest employer of about 9 000 workers that need to work and get paid. Hake is also one of the biggest income generators from this sector, and catches have picked up in quantity and size. We need to take advantage of this,’ he said. ‘Iyambo heard us, and we are very grateful for it.’ Prior to the implementation of the increase, the proposal was first tabled at the Marine Resource Advisory Council to approve the Minister’s decision.Hitula agreed though that although catches have improved, the hake stocks still needed to be managed and protected according to conservation regulation put in place during the 2005-2006 season. ‘It is because of this management that catches are better, hence increased quotas, which is beneficial to all the stakeholders,’ he said.

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