WALVIS BAY – Tunacor Group subsidiary company Namsov showed the fishing industry that value could be added to wet landed horse mackerel. The fishing company yesterday commissioned a state-of-the-art horse mackerel fishing factory to the tune of N$300 million that created an additional 250 jobs at the town.
The new 4 000 solar-roofed factory consists of a cold storage, canteen, truck loading bay, processing equipment and wet fishing vessels.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Tunacor Group board chairperson Sidney Martin said the new addition increases their daily production to 90 metric tons (mt) per day, allowing them to process approximately 25 000mt of horse mackerel per annum. “This will ensure sufficient production capacity to allow us to receive around a year dedicated supply of wet-landed horse mackerel on ice. This will also cater towards catching our own wet horse mackerel quota as well as that of our joint venture partners,” he said.
According to Martin, this new development makes the Tunacor group the largest employer in the fishing industry.
Fisheries minister Derek Klazen, who also witnessed the commissioning, said it is a remarkable achievement for the wet-landed sub-sector, compared to previous years where the majority of horse mackerel was frozen on board the vessels before being exported.
“It warms my heart to note that this new development has created much-needed jobs, especially during these challenging times. As we are all aware, an increase in employment has a positive effect on various sectors in the economy, as well as an improved standard of living, and creates hope for a better tomorrow in all our communities,” he noted.
Klazen also applauded the Tunacor Group for offering investment opportunities for all their operational partners, creating a conducive business environment locally and internationally.
“I want to use this opportunity to encourage right holders to invest in onshore processing, which is directly related to improved product development and market diversification. This is also not the only area where investments are needed in our country right now. My wish is to see all right holders apply innovation, and remain sensitive to the needs of the people of our country.
Tunacor Fisheries, a wholly Namibian-owned company, operates the largest Namibian fishing fleet comprising 12 trawlers and three longliners. The company employs over 2 000 people.