WALVIS BAY – The Namibian Public Workers Union (Napwu) has urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform to prioritise the financial sustainability of the Fisheries Observer Agency (FOA), warning that stagnant salaries and outdated funding threaten the agency’s critical operations.
The FOA was established in May 2002 under the Marine Resources Act of 2000. It was created to monitor compliance in Namibia’s fishing industry, and to collect scientific data essential for sustainable marine resources’ management.
Richard Kayimbi told the ministry during the annual fisheries’ address that the outdated funding model has been a stumbling block both in operations as well as the financial well-being of the observers.
“We implore the ministry to urgently review the funding structure of the FOA, which has remained unchanged for over 11 years. This model is outdated and no longer reflects the current economic environment, where the cost of goods and services continues to rise,” he noted.
Kayimbi stated that FOA employees have not received salary or benefit adjustments for the past five years due to the financial constraints resulting from the current funding formula.
“As a union, we appeal to the ministry to allow the FOA board and management to directly present their case. The proposals were submitted under the previous administration, but were halted due to changes in leadership. These efforts now need to be revived to secure the agency’s future and the livelihoods of its employees”, he added.
The FOA, in their last financial report, pointed out that they had to scale down certain operations due to budgetary constraints.
“The agency had a budgeted revenue of N$71.9 million for the 2023 financial year, but only generated N$60.7 million, resulting in a shortfall of N$11.2 million.
As a result, some planned activities could not be carried out due to insufficient funds,” the financial report reads. The FOA currently uses a funding model based on the landed mass and kilogrammes harvested. Fishing companies pay a 0.9% levy to the Fisheries Observer Fund (FOF), which finances the agency.
The agency was seeking an increase in the levy to 1.5% of the landed value per species to better align with its financial needs.
Board chairperson Inocencio Verde also urged the ministry then to expedite the review of the current funding model so that the FOA could carry out its constitutional mandate effectively.
“As we work towards this goal, we also call on the fishing industry to understand the need for adjustments to ensure the agency’s long-term sustainability”.
Executive director of the agriculture ministry Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata indicated that a meeting has been scheduled between the ministry and FOA to look into the matter, as well as to give the agency a chance to present their case.
edeklerk@nepc.com.na