By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Ministers responsible for the management of marine fisheries from Angola, Namibia and South Africa met in Windhoek last Friday to review the function, role and mandate of the Benguela Current Commission.
The Commission would enable the three countries to work together in addressing problems affecting the marine environment.
Common marine problems are pollution, the management of shared fish stocks and the mitigation of the impacts that marine diamond mining, oil and gas production have on the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME).
The first ministerial conference was attended by Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr Abraham Iyambo of Namibia, Salomao Juheto Xirimbimbi of Angola, and the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of South Africa, Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
At the conference, Iyambo said the establishment of the Commission and the signing of the Interim Agreement in August 2006 in South Africa marked a milestone towards transboundary fisheries management and environmental protection in the three countries.
The Commission will make recommendations to the three countries on research and management issues relating to the sustainable utilisation, conservation and protection of marine species.
Annual assessments and audits of the state of fish stocks, eco-system health and environment will be produced to provide the Commission with necessary information to make wise decisions, said BCLME Chief Technical Advisor, Mick O’Toole.
The Commission will ensure a long-term strategy for food security, employment and poverty alleviation for coastal communities.
Iyambo said it was important that these countries were thinking of an African agenda in fisheries governance.
He expressed concern over the slow implementation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Fisheries, calling on the SADC Secretariat to accelerate the process.
During 2006/7 the region landed 2,4 million tonnes of fish, Iyambo said. The estimated population in SADC is 200 million inhabitants.
“Our marine and freshwater reservoirs should be used as a basket of survival,” the minister said.
Iyambo also proposed that the region considers a Fisheries Day after every five years to celebrate the region’s rich heritage.
Van Schalkwyk commended Namibia for playing a leadership role in bringing momentum to the realisation of the establishment of the Commission.
He said cooperation at sea has long been neglected.
The Angolan minister Xirimbimbi said his country was committed to the implementation and success of the Commission.
He said the time had come for the three countries to share and work together in a coordinated manner to ensure that the countries do not only benefit fully from marine resources but also protect the resources.
At the same occasion, United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Simon Nhongo, said the UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) had agreed to give financial support to the tune of US$5million (approximately N$35 million).
The amount will be needed for the strengthening of institutional support necessary for effective transboundary management and to put in place legal and governance mechanisms to restore depleted fisheries and reduce coastal degradation.