STAFF WRITER
Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister Inge Zaamwani Kamwi has called for strict adherence to sustainable fishing practices to preserve some of the country’s fishing resources which she says are under severe threats of depletion if measures are not taken.
Speaking at the National Fisheries Indaba in Walvis Bay on Friday Zaamwani warned that failure to adhere to strict sustainable fishing practices will risk the N$14 billion industry.
“Without sustainable fish stocks, there can be no fishing industry, no processing sector, no maritime services, and no livelihoods dependent on them,” she said
The minister said she is confident that the fishing industry recognizes the
direct link between the health of the fish stocks and their financial well-being as an industry and fishing companies.
“ This collective recognition and leadership are critical to embark on a reform process that aims to secure the long-term sustainability of our fishing industry,” she said.
Her assessment comes after the government undertook a comprehensive review of Namibia’s fisheries sector, supported by scientific research, stakeholder consultations and industry analysis.
This process , Zaamwani said has provided a clear picture of where Namibia’s industry stands and also showed progress attained as well as urgent interventions is required.
“The findings confirm that Namibia remains internationally respected for responsible fisheries management and for its commitment to sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and climate action. Namibia has always
been one of the countries in the world that upholds the UN FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,” she said.
She said Namibia is one of the early adopters of the concept of the Ecosystem-based Approach to Fisheries Management and has signed up to forward looking conventions and international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable development Goals (UNSDG’s) and the Paris Climate Agreement.
“ These frameworks are well aligned with Vision 2030, the NDPs and our shorter-term strategic development objectives. We have a reputation of showing up and to support the international community to achieve important goals, like the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement targets,” she said.
The Minister said protecting the marine ecosystems is both an environmental obligation and an economic necessity.
“Namibia remains committed to protecting 11% of our Exclusive Economic Zone by 2030. As the economic engine of our fishing industry, this is imperative and we will do it in a consultative and participatory manner,” she said.
She said the sustainability of Namibia’s fisheries must be safeguarded through transparent and science-based decision-making.
To achieve this, we must govern access to our waters with integrity, our scientists and advisory institutions must present the Ministry with clear, forward-looking scenarios to enable the leadership to examine a range of options showing exactly how each choice impacts the long- term recovery and the health of our marine life,” she said.
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