Government has taken issue with the lucrative fishing sector in a 2024 report from the National Planning Commission (NPC). The report focuses on Namibia’s third voluntary national review progress on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals towards Agenda 2030. 

“There is a need to strengthen and fast track all relevant governance legislation to ensure that the fishing sectors’ national desired outcomes are met with regards to local benefits, value-addition and improved sustainable fishing practices,” the report reads. 

It further stressed that the fishing sector’s potential to address food security is another aspect that requires industry-wide engagements focusing on inland fisheries activities and artisanal fishing as a means to expand community participation and reduce inequality. To heed this call, NPC stated that government has embarked on various governance interventions to ensure greater transparency, enhance optimum utilisation of fish stocks, local beneficiation and increase the sector’s contributions to the economy are improved to satisfactory standards. 

The fishing sector remains one of Namibia’s key sectors and as such, a high demand is placed on it to transform the socio-economic stature of the country. However, government feels the sector is still not doing enough, given its tremendous potential.

Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner Sam Shivute last year already expressed his disappointment with how little the fishing sector is contributing to the country’s total revenue, despite Namibia exporting fish to lucrative markets like Spain and Italy. Also, 12% of fish consumed in Africa come from Namibia.

With a careful look into the sector, the revenue agency recovered N$20 million from 14 fishing companies between 1 May and 19 July 2024. This is as the revenue agency intensifies efforts to combat deliberate tax evasion within the fishing industry. In a statement issued last week, NamRA said it has taken targeted actions to halt revenue leakage in this sector, and ensure offenders are held accountable.

Namibia’s fishing industry continues to rank among the world’s top 10 in the international fishing industry, mostly due to the notable success recorded through its governance architecture

The sector recorded close to N$10 billion, and further contributed 4.5% to the gross domestic product (GDP), which however still falls short of the desired levels, looking at the huge diverse activities undertaken in the fishing sector.Furthermore, the proportion volumes of fish handled, canned and processed improved to 58% from the 2021/22 FY, up from a meagre 5% in the 2017/18 FY over the past five-year period. 

The fisheries ministry last year stated that the sector accounted for over 14% of export earnings that were sourced from fish and fisheries products, making fisheries’ contribution to the GDP at 4.5%.-mndjavera@nepc.com.na