Namibia’s private fishing sector has hailed the government’s new bycatch regulations, announced by Information Minister Emma Theofelus after the 16th Cabinet meeting, as a bold step toward sustainable fisheries management.
The measures, which include a 2% bycatch threshold, steeper penalties, and a public register of violators, have been praised for aligning Namibia with global best practices.
Johny Doeseb, chairperson of the Wet Landed Small Pelagic Association, described the decision as “progressive leadership,” noting that the 2% bycatch limit is stricter than the international 5% standard.
“This reinforces Namibia’s commitment to ecosystem protection and sustainable fisheries, positioning us as a global model,” Doeseb said. The association, representing operators handling pilchards, horse mackerel, and anchovies, emphasized the rules’ potential to enhance food security, economic diversification, and job creation.
The regulations address long-standing concerns about indiscriminate harvesting, particularly pilchard bycatch in the horse mackerel fishery, which surged from 6,504 tonnes in 2023 to 12,610 tonnes in 2024.
The Fisheries Ministry reported recent pilchard landings worth over N$23 million, suggesting deliberate bycatch. The new rules impose a 50% bycatch fee (up from 15%), forfeiture of excess catch, and severe penalties, including license suspensions, vessel seizures, and quota deductions for repeat offenders. A public violator register aims to ensure transparency.
Doeseb commended the Fisheries Observers Agency for its real-time monitoring and urged consistent enforcement to protect compliant operators. Alongside these measures, Cabinet approved a 10,000-tonne pilchard quota for 2025, requiring environmentally friendly methods and local processing, while maintaining the pilchard fishery moratorium until the stock reaches a one-million-tonne biomass threshold.
