SWAKOPMUND – Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses has called on industry players and policymakers to work together to protect Namibia’s marine and coastal resources.
The governor was speaking at the 10th annual Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (SANUMARC) Research Conference of the University of Namibia, currently underway in Walvis Bay.
SANUMARC is a multidisciplinary research centre based in Henties Bay that has been at the forefront of promoting research and development in marine and coastal resources. Its mission is to promote sustainable development and responsible utilisation of these resources through environmentally sound management for the benefit of Namibia and the SADC region. This year’s conference is being held in collaboration with Tshwane University of Technology.
“This year is very special. It is a joint conference with Tshwane University of Technology. This collaboration is exactly what Africa needs,” /Goagoses said.
/Goagoses praised the conference for reaching a 10-year milestone, noting that the centre has grown and now deserves to be upgraded to an institute to reflect its importance not only to Erongo residents but to all Namibians.
“Next year, when we meet again, I want to see a different portfolio attached to this centre,” she said.
She said the theme ‘A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Climate Change, Food Security, Blue Economy Nexus’ highlights that climate change, food security, and the blue economy are interconnected challenges that require collective action.
She also warned that rising sea levels, shifting currents, ocean acidification and extreme weather events threaten fisheries and aquaculture, which underpin Namibia’s food security.
“The blue economy offers opportunities for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem health — but only if managed sustainably. Our ocean and coast provide vital nutrition and livelihoods for Namibians. Fisheries remain a cornerstone of our economy, while aquaculture brings new opportunities for diversification. Therefore, we must collaborate to protect our marine resources,” she appealed.
She then urged students and young researchers to see themselves as custodians of Namibia’s ocean heritage and warned them not to be distracted by ill activities such as drug and alcohol abuse and laziness.
Also speaking at the opening, Walvis Bay deputy mayor Saara Mutondoka called on the participants to find solutions that cut across disciplines, sectors, and communities. “Climate change does not respect silos, and neither should our research, policy, or practical action,” she said.
Mutondoka also urged them to integrate perspectives from agriculture, oceanography, urban planning, economics, social sciences, engineering, public health, data science and indigenous knowledge in their preservation efforts.
“Research must benefit communities, not just academics. We should play our part to ensure that our natural resources are protected and sustained,” she appealed.
edeklerk@nepc.com.na