Ongwediva
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Bernard Esau has encouraged crop farmers in the north to invest in aquaculture, saying it can generate wealth.
“There are vast investment opportunities in freshwater aquaculture and mariculture in many parts of Namibia. Fish farming is a business, just like crop and livestock farming,” said the fisheries minister.
Essau made the remarks recently in Ongwediva, where he also appealed to the youth and women to invest in the fish industry. He said the integration and empowerment of these marginalised groups would be facilitated by his ministry.
In the same vein, the minister also appealed to investors to increase their investment in the sector. “This is the only way we can make the fishery truly Namibian. We want to make fish available to all Namibians in all corners of the country, because fish is nutritious, healthy, full of Omega 3 fatty acids and other nutrients that enhance healthy hearts,” he said.
About 98 percent of fishing rights allocated by the ministry are currently held by Namibians, with the number of people directly employed by the fishing sector pegged at around 15 000.