Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Ministry of Fisheries and Marines Resources does not believe the country’s entire total allowable catch, known as quotas, should be auctioned, while saying it is in no hurry to amend the Marine Resources Act.
The executive director of fisheries and marine resources, Annely Haiphene, said it would not make sense to auction the entire quota as the industry and employees depend on it.
Haiphene was responding to a social media message that suggested the ministry intends to auction the entire total allowable catch (TAC), because it is under pressure to amend the law by 31 March 2022.
The amendment is a recommendation by the high-level panel on economic growth to do away with free quotas, which have over the years been questioned, as it benefited only a few.
“Put plainly, the ministry is under no pressure to amend the Marine Resources Act, but has a deadline by which consultations with the industry for its inputs is to be executed,” Haiphene said in a statement.
The government, through the second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPII), expects the fisheries ministry to amend the provisions of the Marine Resources Act to provide for the auctioning of the entire TAC.
The ministry has until the end of March next year to provide recommendations. “Such or any amendments must be done after consultations with key stakeholders,” said Haiphene.
Quota holders who currently have no infrastructure sell their quotas by means of usage fee agreements. The proceeds from these sales end up in their pockets without being reinvested to create further employment.
The proposal by the high-level panel is to abolish the current quota system by selling or auctioning the whole TAC at market-related prices. Current quota holders with no infrastructure or employees have pushed operators into a tight spot to invest or create employment as they are competing with briefcase companies for quotas.
Briefcase operators sell their quotas through high usage fees, charging as much as N$10 000 per tonne. The ministry currently auctions off a portion of the hake, horse mackerel and monk TAC, classified as governmental objective quotas.
Haiphene diffused allegations of about 10 hake operators of which the rights will expire at the end of October. This is after claims that because of the proposed amendment to the act these operators’ rights may not be extended.
According to Haiphene, applications for expiring fishing rights and extensions will be evaluated in accordance with the compliance requirements currently in place.
“As such, there are no risks of job losses anticipated within the fishing industry, nor will the ministry take landslide decisions without involving and seeking the inputs of the industry in line with customs of countries with democratic governance,” she said.
She assured the nation the country’s marine resources are managed by a capable workforce which is determined and committed to taking the fishing industry to greater heights.
