Ministry announces 197 000 tonnes of total allowable catch

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) is demanding full transparency regarding horse mackerel quota allocations following the ministry’s announcement of a reduced total allowable catch (TAC).

The party’s shadow minister of international relations and trade, Rodney Cloete, told The Namibian on Sunday that his party will demand full disclosure on the TAC when the parliament resumes in February. 

“We will table written questions demanding the 2026 TAC for all commercial species, a complete list of quota allocations by company, and beneficial ownership traced through corporate structures to identify who profits from the fisheries,” he said.

Over the years, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has not been disclosing information on quota rights holders and beneficiaries.  

Cloete’s remarks come after the fisheries ministry failed to publicly disclose the TAC for horse mackerel when the fishing season opened on 1 January. 

He said the IPC plans to table a motion calling for an independent audit of all fishing quota allocations since 1990. 

“The ministry should not be able to allocate a single kilogram without Namibians knowing who receives it and why,” he said. 
Cloete said the secrecy around rights holders creates room for corruption.

“Without disclosure, there is no oversight. No journalist can investigate what they cannot see. No member of parliament can question what is not published,” he said.

Following The Namibian’s report on TAC secrecy, the ministry announced that the horse mackerel TAC had been set at  197 000 tonnes, a 5% reduction from 208 000 tonnes in 2025. 

“This 5% decrease is a proactive and precautionary management decision, reflecting our commitment to responsive and science-based fishery management to ensure the stock’s long-term health,” the ministry said.

It has not explained how much of this catch would be allocated to the industry, governmental objectives, or reserves. 

According to the ministry, the latest scientific survey estimates the horse mackerel biomass at 784 011 tonnes. 

“While the biomass remains within sustainable biological limits, the assessment identifies a recent decline that necessitates a prudent and responsive management approach,” the ministry said.

The ministry has, however, indicated that the TAC has been split in the ration of 60% freezer and 40% wet-landed.
Wet-landed catch is allocated for onshore processing.

Wet-Landed Small Pelagic Association (WLSPA) chairperson Johny Doeseb says the delay in publicly announcing the TAC has already caused disruption for wet-landed operators.

“Wet-fish operators are not able to plan their 2026 operations with certainty under the current circumstances. Operational planning in the wet-landed sector depends on clarity on volumes to align vessels, factory throughput, maintenance schedules, financing, and labour commitments. 

“Without this information, planning becomes speculative rather than strategic,” he says.
Doeseb warns that wet-landed fish factories rely on predictable supply to maintain continuous operations and that retrenchments, which began in late 2025, are continuing. 

“Wet-fish operators stopped operating as of 31 October 2025, and retrenchments commenced late last year. These job losses are continuing into 2026 and are likely to escalate if the uncertainty persists,” he says.

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