WINDHOEK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government plans to transform its fishing industry from a raw materials exporter into a comprehensive seafood economy, an official revealed on Wednesday.
Speaking during a consultation with fishing industry leaders in the port city of Walvis Bay, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani said the initiative forms part of the country's new National Development Plan and seeks to raise the share of locally processed catch from 23 percent to 45 percent within five years.
The move is expected to create 15,000 new permanent jobs in processing operations, reduce raw fish exports by 60 percent, and drive the development of new high-value seafood products for international markets, she said.
To achieve this, the government will implement mandatory processing requirements for all fishing quota holders, she said, urging industry stakeholders to partner with the government in this national effort.
She also noted that the sector's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) declined from 4.5 percent in 2023 to 4.1 percent in 2024. "This reduction is largely attributed to continued decreases in the total allowable catches across key commercial species such as hake and horse mackerel," she explained.
"To mitigate the unintended consequences of high levels of bycatch, the ministry is committed to enforcing stricter regulations and enhancing compliance with the recently announced 2 percent bycatch thresholds," she said, adding that the bycatch fee rate will also be increased from 15 to 50 percent.
Zaamwani also announced stepped-up measures to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing along Namibia's maritime borders, particularly in the north, including the introduction of new monitoring technologies and joint patrols with the Ministry of Defense and the Namibian Police Force.
The fishing sector remains a major contributor to Namibia's economy, supporting GDP, exports, value addition, and employment. ■
