Hake stock shows signs of recovery

WALVIS BAY – The total biomass of hake detected in February and March this year showed a 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Abraham Iyambo.

Iyambo, who was speaking at the official opening of the N$30 million Hangana Seafood factory at the harbour town on Friday, said the increase in hake was largely due to a very large increase in small fish – those less than 36 centimetres – which had risen by 123 per cent. However, he said, there was still a need to protect the species.On the negative side, he said, the total biomass of fish larger than 36 centimetres was found to have decreased by 35 per cent since the 2005 survey.Consequently, taking a precautionary approach, scientists and the advisory council had recommended that the Total Allowance Catch (TAC) for hake be reduced.We have, therefore, reduced the TAC from 180 000 to 130 000 tonnes for this fishing season, Iyambo said, adding that these measures called for a rearrangement of operations by managers and trade unions.For the current fishing season, Government has introduced measures to protect small hake, such as closed areas, depth restriction, closed season during the peak spawning period, wetfish-only areas, and a reduction in the number of fishing vessels.The Namibian fishing industry has been going through hard times for a number of years, mainly as a result of volatile currency exchange rates, falling hard currency prices in customer countries, soaring crude oil prices, a lack of market segmentation and a focus on commodity products.However, he said, there was still a need to protect the species.On the negative side, he said, the total biomass of fish larger than 36 centimetres was found to have decreased by 35 per cent since the 2005 survey.Consequently, taking a precautionary approach, scientists and the advisory council had recommended that the Total Allowance Catch (TAC) for hake be reduced.We have, therefore, reduced the TAC from 180 000 to 130 000 tonnes for this fishing season, Iyambo said, adding that these measures called for a rearrangement of operations by managers and trade unions.For the current fishing season, Government has introduced measures to protect small hake, such as closed areas, depth restriction, closed season during the peak spawning period, wetfish-only areas, and a reduction in the number of fishing vessels.The Namibian fishing industry has been going through hard times for a number of years, mainly as a result of volatile currency exchange rates, falling hard currency prices in customer countries, soaring crude oil prices, a lack of market segmentation and a focus on commodity products.