Tuna to be processed locally

THE Namibian Government plans to introduce a new policy at the end of this year to ban bulk exports of tuna fish to promote local value addition.

“At the end of this year, the Fisheries Ministry will definitely have a strategic decision implemented to stop bulk exports of tuna fish,” Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo said in an interview with The Namibian. “There will be no discussion about the planned ban of tuna fish bulk export,” he added.Iyambo said holders of tuna quotas had been given time to submit proposals how they intend to set up tuna processing plants in the country.Quota holders had until the end of July to submit their proposals, the Minister said.Currently all tuna catches are frozen and exported to Asian markets.Iyambo believes value-added tuna products, whether canned or frozen, could yield an additional 600 to 800 jobs in the Namibian fisheries sector.”It’s not that difficult to set up a tuna fish cannery in Namibia,” Iyambo remarked.Namibia is the largest tuna producer on the African continent, he said, with an annual quota of 4 000 tonnes allocated by the International Commission of Atlantic Tuna (ICOAT).Because Namibia is a paid-up member of ICOAT, Namibian quota holders can also catch tuna in international waters, Iyambo added.”There will be no discussion about the planned ban of tuna fish bulk export,” he added.Iyambo said holders of tuna quotas had been given time to submit proposals how they intend to set up tuna processing plants in the country.Quota holders had until the end of July to submit their proposals, the Minister said.Currently all tuna catches are frozen and exported to Asian markets.Iyambo believes value-added tuna products, whether canned or frozen, could yield an additional 600 to 800 jobs in the Namibian fisheries sector.”It’s not that difficult to set up a tuna fish cannery in Namibia,” Iyambo remarked.Namibia is the largest tuna producer on the African continent, he said, with an annual quota of 4 000 tonnes allocated by the International Commission of Atlantic Tuna (ICOAT).Because Namibia is a paid-up member of ICOAT, Namibian quota holders can also catch tuna in international waters, Iyambo added.