‘Mackerel industry still paralysed’

IT is now a month since the horse-mackerel industry was brought to a standstill when almost the entire fleet was recalled to port and arrested.

Since then, no charges have been brought against anyone, says the chairman of the Mid-water Trawler Association, Callie Jacobs. Charges in terms of the Marine Resources Act of 2000 are being considered by the Prosecutor General.Detective Sergeant Julia Nujoma, spokesperson for the Erongo Police, said the Police investigation had been completed and the matter was now in the hands of the Prosecutor General to decide whether charges will be laid.In the meantime, the industry is losing millions of dollars, while quota holders are said to be desperately trying to avoid inevitable quota penalties.Independent sources informed The Namibian on Monday that the production loss had reached N$20 million.”No one really knows where the problem is at this stage,” Jacobs said.Independent sources informed The Namibian that mackerel quota holders are desperately trying to hand back their unfilled quotas to avoid having to pay quota penalties.Jacobs said this could be a very real issue for the quota holders, considering that a whole month has gone by without catches.Only three horse mackerel vessels are believed to be fishing at the moment.Eight of the ten vessels operating in Namibian waters were arrested.One absconded about two weeks ago, while another was released to return to the fishing grounds.The vessel Kiefskya Rus, which absconded from the Walvis Bay harbour on November 9 in defiance of the notice of seizure has still not been located.An earlier statement by the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Frans Sheehama, said the vessels were recalled because devices used for dumping fish at sea were allegedly found on board.The dumping of fish is a contravention of the Act.Charges in terms of the Marine Resources Act of 2000 are being considered by the Prosecutor General.Detective Sergeant Julia Nujoma, spokesperson for the Erongo Police, said the Police investigation had been completed and the matter was now in the hands of the Prosecutor General to decide whether charges will be laid.In the meantime, the industry is losing millions of dollars, while quota holders are said to be desperately trying to avoid inevitable quota penalties.Independent sources informed The Namibian on Monday that the production loss had reached N$20 million.”No one really knows where the problem is at this stage,” Jacobs said.Independent sources informed The Namibian that mackerel quota holders are desperately trying to hand back their unfilled quotas to avoid having to pay quota penalties.Jacobs said this could be a very real issue for the quota holders, considering that a whole month has gone by without catches.Only three horse mackerel vessels are believed to be fishing at the moment.Eight of the ten vessels operating in Namibian waters were arrested.One absconded about two weeks ago, while another was released to return to the fishing grounds.The vessel Kiefskya Rus, which absconded from the Walvis Bay harbour on November 9 in defiance of the notice of seizure has still not been located.An earlier statement by the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Frans Sheehama, said the vessels were recalled because devices used for dumping fish at sea were allegedly found on board.The dumping of fish is a contravention of the Act.