Namibian oysters hit by sudden clampdown

THE Namibian oyster industry ground to a halt last Wednesday when the export of about 80 000 oysters a week to South Africa was stopped.

Without giving prior warning, the South African government has enforced a six-year-old regulation requiring permits. A source close to the industry told The Namibian the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources had apparently written to the South African authorities saying the unannounced decision had not been done in the spirit of SADC co-operation.Fears are rife that should South Africa decide to close its border completely it would mean the end of a thriving industry – the only leg of Namibia’s aquaculture sector that is successfully producing and exporting so far.Four oyster producers at Walvis Bay and one at Luederitz export close to 100 per cent of their production to South Africa.The enforced regulation will paralyse the industry for at least three weeks until the affected parties have their papers in order.The regulation stipulates that clients in South Africa need to possess a permit for the import of live animals, while producers in Namibia need a permit to export.The export permit will certify the origin of the product, that it comes from a registered producer and that the company is a taxpayer.The regulations include a levy of N$200 per batch to be paid by the importer.The regulation has existed since 1998 but was never enforced.There is a feeling in the industry that the South African government was pressurised by oyster growers to start enforcing the law to protect their market.Namibian oysters are widely recognised to be of world-class quality.”My business has come to a complete standstill,” said Renaldo Ricardo, manager of the oyster farm at the Walvis Bay Salt Company.He exports 80 000 oysters a month.Ricardo said seafood restaurants in Cape Town were behind him 100 per cent.”They are hurrying to get their papers in order.”Manuel Romero, manager of Beira Aquaculture, said the N$200 levy would affect small customers who usually buy between 300 to 500 oysters at a time.”My client who distributes to restaurants has already stopped his order.”Joe Johnson of NamAqua at Walvis Bay said the new regulation had affected his business while clients obtained their permits.The new measure has woken fears among oyster growers about the long-term future of the industry.An aquaculture association is in the process of being formalised to assist the Ministry with achieving European Union accreditation as soon as possible.Namibia is also looking at new markets in Asia and the United States.The fear is that as soon as South Africa has achieved EU accreditation they will have to stop imports from non-compliance countries.According to the source, South Africa is well on its way with the accreditation process.”They are only waiting for the promulgation of the aquaculture act.”The process in Namibia has also started, but does not look like it will be in place before South Africa.Minister Abraham Iyambo of Fisheries and Marine Resources told the aquaculture industry at a meeting recently that the building of a laboratory for testing at Swakopmund was being planned.The Ministry has brought in Spanish specialists to assist with setting up a lab and other requirements.Oyster growers are carrying out testing and monitoring privately at the moment to “cover their backs”.They have to send samples to labs in South Africa and wait more than five weeks for results.Both Iyambo and the PS were not available for comment.A source close to the industry told The Namibian the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources had apparently written to the South African authorities saying the unannounced decision had not been done in the spirit of SADC co-operation.Fears are rife that should South Africa decide to close its border completely it would mean the end of a thriving industry – the only leg of Namibia’s aquaculture sector that is successfully producing and exporting so far.Four oyster producers at Walvis Bay and one at Luederitz export close to 100 per cent of their production to South Africa.The enforced regulation will paralyse the industry for at least three weeks until the affected parties have their papers in order.The regulation stipulates that clients in South Africa need to possess a permit for the import of live animals, while producers in Namibia need a permit to export.The export permit will certify the origin of the product, that it comes from a registered producer and that the company is a taxpayer.The regulations include a levy of N$200 per batch to be paid by the importer.The regulation has existed since 1998 but was never enforced.There is a feeling in the industry that the South African government was pressurised by oyster growers to start enforcing the law to protect their market.Namibian oysters are widely recognised to be of world-class quality.”My business has come to a complete standstill,” said Renaldo Ricardo, manager of the oyster farm at the Walvis Bay Salt Company.He exports 80 000 oysters a month.Ricardo said seafood restaurants in Cape Town were behind him 100 per cent.”They are hurrying to get their papers in order.”Manuel Romero, manager of Beira Aquaculture, said the N$200 levy would affect small customers who usually buy between 300 to 500 oysters at a time.”My client who distributes to restaurants has already stopped his order.”Joe Johnson of NamAqua at Walvis Bay said the new regulation had affected his business while clients obtained their permits.The new measure has woken fears among oyster growers about the long-term future of the industry.An aquaculture association is in the process of being formalised to assist the Ministry with achieving European Union accreditation as soon as possible.Namibia is also looking at new markets in Asia and the United States.The fear is that as soon as South Africa has achieved EU accreditation they will have to stop imports from non-compliance countries.According to the source, South Africa is well on its way with the accreditation process.”They are only waiting for the promulgation of the aquaculture act.”The process in Namibia has also started, but does not look like it will be in place before South Africa.Minister Abraham Iyambo of Fisheries and Marine Resources told the aquaculture industry at a meeting recently that the building of a laboratory for testing at Swakopmund was being planned.The Ministry has brought in Spanish specialists to assist with setting up a lab and other requirements.Oyster growers are carrying out testing and monitoring privately at the moment to “cover their backs”.They have to send samples to labs in South Africa and wait more than five weeks for results.Both Iyambo and the PS were not available for comment.