Seized trawler absconds

WHILE the Police at Walvis Bay are still investigating charges against most horse mackerel vessel operators, one of the midwater trawlers absconded over the weekend.

Erongo Police’s spokesperson, Detective Sergeant Julia Nujoma, confirmed the incident and said the trawler belonged to Namsov Fishing Enterprises. She could not provide further details.Sources in the industry informed The Namibian yesterday that the trawler’s Kiefskya Rus left the port on Friday, contravening the notice of seizure issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources during the recall of all the vessels about two weeks ago.It is believed that all those on board the vessel are foreign seamen.Namsov’s CEO, Jan Arnold, confirmed the information, but said the vessel was chartered and did not belong to his company.It was one of the vessels that were detained over the last two weeks though, according to records.Arnold said Namsov was co-operating with the Police 100 per cent to trace and re-arrest the vessel.He did not say how this would be done.Meanwhile, Swakopmund State Prosecutor Tania Tait, who is handling the case, told The Namibian yesterday that the Police are still investigating the matter, and that it was uncertain how long it could still take, and whether the skippers of the seven midwater trawlers that were detained would be prosecuted for contravening the Marine Resources Act of 2000.Although the exact charges are still unknown, a statement last week by the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Frans Sheehama, indicated that an inspection done between October 24 and 29 revealed that many of the vessels had on board devices used to dump fish at sea – an activity that is illegal under the mentioned Act.Eight of the ten horse mackerel midwater trawlers operating in Namibian waters were recalled to port for further inspection.One – the Desert Rose – was allowed to return to business.Two vessels are still in the Cape Town harbour for repairs.Industry sources said these two might be included in the investigation upon their return to Namibia.The seizure of the vessels two weeks ago brought the whole horse mackerel industry to a halt.According to Callie Jacobs, Chairman of the Horse Mackerel Association, the industry is losing about N$1 million a day, bringing the estimated loss to date to N$14 million.She could not provide further details.Sources in the industry informed The Namibian yesterday that the trawler’s Kiefskya Rus left the port on Friday, contravening the notice of seizure issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources during the recall of all the vessels about two weeks ago.It is believed that all those on board the vessel are foreign seamen. Namsov’s CEO, Jan Arnold, confirmed the information, but said the vessel was chartered and did not belong to his company.It was one of the vessels that were detained over the last two weeks though, according to records.Arnold said Namsov was co-operating with the Police 100 per cent to trace and re-arrest the vessel.He did not say how this would be done.Meanwhile, Swakopmund State Prosecutor Tania Tait, who is handling the case, told The Namibian yesterday that the Police are still investigating the matter, and that it was uncertain how long it could still take, and whether the skippers of the seven midwater trawlers that were detained would be prosecuted for contravening the Marine Resources Act of 2000.Although the exact charges are still unknown, a statement last week by the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Frans Sheehama, indicated that an inspection done between October 24 and 29 revealed that many of the vessels had on board devices used to dump fish at sea – an activity that is illegal under the mentioned Act.Eight of the ten horse mackerel midwater trawlers operating in Namibian waters were recalled to port for further inspection.One – the Desert Rose – was allowed to return to business.Two vessels are still in the Cape Town harbour for repairs.Industry sources said these two might be included in the investigation upon their return to Namibia.The seizure of the vessels two weeks ago brought the whole horse mackerel industry to a halt.According to Callie Jacobs, Chairman of the Horse Mackerel Association, the industry is losing about N$1 million a day, bringing the estimated loss to date to N$14 million.