GOBABIS – Namibia is too big to be covered by the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) alone, thus the private fishing industry and entrepreneurs have a role to play in the realisation of transforming Namibia into a fish-eating nation.
This plea for the private sector to join in government’s efforts of promoting fish eating in Namibia was made last Friday evening by Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernard Esau, at a gala dinner at the Goba Lodge and Rest Camp outside Gobabis to launch the first ever National Fish Consumption Day in the Omaheke Region.
Esau said government is committed to fulfil its mandate of having fish being accessible at a reasonable price in all corners of the country.
“In the same vein, I would like to request fishing companies to join us in this noble vision to transform the Namibian society from being a heavy consumer of red meat to a balanced consumer of fish and meat. I believe the appetite for fish is ever increasing as we educate the community on the advantage fish has over red meat health-wise. I am an ardent believer in public-private partnership, because government cannot do everything alone,” he stressed.
“The national fish day in the Omaheke Region is indeed a joyous moment and I take pride to be associated with such a great initiative to take fish consumption promotion to another level. At this juncture, I must congratulate the Board of Directors of the Namibia Fish Consumption Trust for the visionary leadership, and management for implementing the directives of the board with vigour and excellence.
“The inaugural National Fish Day was held last year in Erongo Region. I would like to thank the fishing industry for the continuous and valuable support you have given to the trust and particularly to the national fish day initiative. Your attendance of the gala dinner and exhibition of your products at the fish day are duly recognised and very much appreciated and I would therefore like to take this opportunity to request the private sector in general, and the fishing industry in particular to assist the trust in the promotion of fish in any way possible.”
To date, the trust has thirteen fish shops in nine regions of the country. “With this we have passed the halfway mark in order to realise our vision of having fish shops in all fourteen regions.”
From January to August 2013, the trust has distributed 4 800 metric tons of horse-mackerel compared to 3 700 metric tons last year over the same period. As attested by the distribution, the consumption of fish in Namibia is on the increase every year, especially horse-mackerel which was also voted the national fish last year.
The trust has carried out road shows to the southern towns of !Nami#Nüs, Auas, Keetmanshoop, Mariental and Rehoboth, with the aim of promoting fish and educating the public on how to prepare fish. During the road show, the trust has distributed on average 2 500kg of fresh fish per town. In addition, the trust has and will attend various trade fairs in the country in order to create awareness on fish consumption.
Esau thanked Matrix Commodity and Marketing Company (Mamas) and Careserve for supporting the road show, which preceded the national fish day, by sponsoring canned pilchards and fruit juice for 4 500 children. In the same breath, the minister invited business personalities present at the gala dinner to support the trust, assuring them that the proceeds would be directed to worthy and noble causes in the region.
Last year, N$51 000 was collected from the gala dinner, and it was donated to schools in the Erongo Region as follows: Brandberg Primary School received a photocopier/scanner; Otjimbingwe Primary School received four personal computers; !Haob Eimab Hostel received canned and fresh fish; and Okangwe hostel received canned and fresh fish. The fresh fish was sponsored by Erongo Marine Enterprises. The Saava family donated N$90 000 to NFCPT.
By Deon Schlechter