Iuze Mukube
An Angolan national has been sentenced to a fine of over half a million after being found guilty of illegally fishing in Namibian waters.
He got a N$650 000 fine.
The accused, Ricardo Rodriques, faced charges of contravening two sections of the Marine Resources Act.
The first count is harvesting marine resources without a valid licence, and count two is failing to dismantle, stow or secure fishing gear in such a manner as not to be readily available for harvesting.
The Swakopmund Regional Court, seated at Walvis Bay and presided over by magistrate Vicky Nicolaidis, found him guilty for the first count and acquitted him on the second on 9 February 2026.
The State alleged that Rodrigues, being the master of a foreign-flagged vessel, Lucimar, harvested marine resources inside the country’s waters without a valid fishing licence during the period of 17 to 19 December 2023 near the district of Walvis Bay.
It also alleged the harvested marine resources totalled 40 797 kg, with a value of N$970 826.50.
Additionally, it was further alleged that while the accused was in Namibian waters, he failed to stow or secure the fishing gear in the vessel as per the Act, while knowing that the fishing vessel is not authorised by a licence to harvest marine resources in Namibia.
Rodriques, prior to the conviction, pleaded not guilty to the charges and said that he did not harvest marine resources in Namibia and further that his vessel merely drifted into Namibian waters.
During the conviction, magistrate Nicolaidis found no reason to reject the evidence of the State.
Nicolaidis stated that it was not in dispute that the accused was found inside Namibian waters and in the possession of frozen Namibian fish species.
Rodriques was also found 13 nautical miles (roughly 20km) from the northern border, with his plotter switched off when in Namibian waters.
The magistrate also pointed to evidence that his vessel’s nets were found dripping wet and were entangled with fresh fish during inspection by the fisheries inspectors.
Witness evidence also placed the vessel bearing the description of the Lucimar entering Namibian waters on 17 December and appearing to be trawling and heaving, added Nicolaidis.
The magistrate also stated that the vessel failed to respond to any contact with other vessels and only stopped sailing when the order to do so was coupled with a threat of force, minimal or otherwise.
She pointed out that the Lucimar “could not have drifted into Namibia in a northward-flowing current even while the current that flows along Angola, aptly named the Angola Current, flows in a southern direction.”
She stated that a fishing master with decades of experience, such as Rodrigues, must surely be aware at all times of his geographical location to ensure that his fishing endeavours remain lawful.
Furthermore, he should have functional navigational equipment, including his plotter, to know his exact location at sea.
“This critical failure, coupled with the findings enumerated above, leads me to, therefore, accept that the accused did conduct harvesting of marine resources activities inside Namibia without a valid licence.”
She found him guilty on the first count and acquitted him of the second charge, stating that the State failed to prove the charge.
She said she accepted the evidence of the accused that on that vessel, nets are either rolled on the drums or in use as the only way they are stored.
The accused was represented by Sisa Namandje and the State by Annakleta Kandjimi.