WALVIS BAY – The deputy chairperson of the Midwater Trawlers Association (MTA), Sharon Neumbo says the horse-mackerel industry is not in disarray despite the ongoing negative reports surrounding the industry. MTA called a press conference on Friday morning at Walvis Bay to distanced itself from the circulation of a publication, Oshili Nashi Popiwe, that is appearing in one of the English daily newspapers, accusing the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernard Esau and ministry staff of favouritism and corruption. The press conference follows an urgent MTA meeting on Thursday evening last week.
Neumbo said publication “which no one wants to take responsibility for” is one sided and damaging to the horse mackerel industry. “These public fights generate a negative view on our industry and somehow gives the impression that we are in disarray and this is clearly not the case,” Neumbo said.
However, the chairperson of the MTA, Jerome Mouton ditched the press conference on Friday morning despite apparently agreeing the previous night during an urgent meeting held by the association that it would distance itself from the negative press, and fully support the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernard Esau.
The publication of the newsletter comes after the minister took the decision to allocate a portion of the horse mackerel quota that the ministry previously awarded to Namsov, to some of the newer fishing companies in the industry.
Mouton, who is also the managing director of Namsov Fishing Enterprise, have alongside Emeritus Fishing Limited and Atlantic Harvesters of Namibia Limited lodged a court case against Esau and the government after their quota was cut. Namsov is demanding 13 337 metric tonnes; Emeritus Fishing Limited, 2 238 metric tonnes; and the third applicant, Atlantic Harvesters of Namibia Limited, 2 555 metric tonnes. Namsov’s quota was apparently cut with 13 percent.
Neumbo said Mouton attended the urgent meeting were it was decided to issue a statement that express MTA’s disappointment with the press. Only Neumbo and Robert Shimooshili attended the press conferfence.
“We feel it is imperative that the MTA publish a press release that reflects the views and opinions of the majority of the industry players. It is our duty as the MTA to protect and defend the image of our industry and ensure that the true facts are publishes,” Neumbo said.
She said the horse-mackerel industry is in a healthy state with a stable regulatory economic and political environment while the industry also saw a steady increase in investments in terms of vessels and onshore facilities and job creation over the past two years.
“However, not enough jobs has been created by the industry, compared to the hake industry and we could do more,” she said