Lobster industry is still hurting

ALTHOUGH reasonable prices were achieved last year, very low catches and high operation costs are still hurting the lobster industry.

Describing the struggling industry, Sea Flower fishing company CEO Ronny Coppin said in an exclusive interview: ‘It’s in the ‘ICU’ (intensive care unit), like some people described it.’According to Coppin just over 30 per cent of the total allowable catches (TAC) were landed last year. He said small-scale lobster operators are facing a ‘dire financial’ state and may lose their vessels. He noted that his fishing company re-looked at how to go about business, after it reported considerable losses last year. ‘Last year we did a trial on the export of live lobster, and found it is the way to go. It’s a way of adding value. The trial was a success, we exported 10 tonnes’ said Coppin. He said the only way to rescue the lobster industry from total collapse is to restructure it into a community-based operation and take way the ‘red tape’. He added his company last year started to outsource fishing operations, to involve the local community.This, he said, has brought down costs. Commenting on the credit line of millions given to small-scale lobster operators by the Development Bank of Namibia last year to rescue the industry, Coppin said: ‘The loans only help the operators with their operations cost, but many are still struggling to meet their debt obligations.’’It’s like keeping the wolf away from the sheep for just another year,’ he remarked. Downsizing the lobster infrastructure to suit and protect the resource is the only lasting solution, Coppin concluded.

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