The Fisheries ministry will need N$58 million to carry out the Marine and Inland Monitoring, Control and Surveillance programme to combating of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities within Namibia’s exclusive economic zone as well as on the inland water bodies.
Illegal fishing is a key driver of global overfishing; it threatens marine ecosystems, puts food security and regional stability at risk, and it is linked to major human rights violations and even organised crime all over the world.
Hence, the ministry wants to strengthen its programme with the necessary funding to allow air, sea and river patrols to monitor whether fishing activities are carried out within the ambit of our laws.
While tabling the ministry’s budget in parliament, fisheries minister Derek Klazen said the MCS programme includes monitoring of all landings at land-based fish processing plants, ports and off-port facilities, as well as conducting coastal and land patrols and inspections.
“The MCS programme is of paramount importance in ensuring that only licensed vessels are permitted within our EEZ. The financial resources requested are to ensure that officials continue to protect our aquatic resources for the sustainable utilisation of these resources in support of the livelihoods of our people now and in the future,” the minister said.
According to him, the resources available to the ministry and this programme, in particular, have been on the decrease while the cost of repairs of the assets required to carry out its mandate has been increasing.
He added the ministry would be unable to deliver on its mandate if the trend continues.
The chairperson of the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations, Matti Amukwa, also backed the minister by saying the protection of Namibia’s marine resources is of outmost importance; hence, illegal fishing is a major concern.
“However, it is not only the ministry’s responsibility. The industry is always encouraging companies and their crew to report such activities to the ministry.
Unionist Paulus Hango also said taking care of our natural resources is the responsibility of each and everyone who is harvesting.
“We must at all times protect this resource to make sure we safeguard it for the generations to come,” Hango said.
IUU fishing remains one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems due to its potent ability to undermine national and regional efforts to manage fisheries sustainably.
The fishing industry observers believe IUU activities account for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries.