Africa-Press – Namibia. Fishing industry players want the government to withdraw from quota auctions.
They warned that the practice could result in job losses, unfair competition and the rise of foreign dominance in Namibia’s fishing sector.
The fishing industry on Friday shared their concerns over the government’s growing role as both regulator and business operator.
They cautioned that this is creating unfair competition, and threatening the future of Namibian-owned businesses.
Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations’ (CNFA) president Matti Amukwa said government, through its governmental objectives quota, has now become the biggest quota holder in the industry.
However, it is not bound by the same rules and obligations placed on private rights holders, such as creating jobs and ensuring value-addition.
“This situation is creating a parallel quota industry, where vessel operators survive on auctioned or arbitrarily-issued quotas, without working with rights holders or meeting any long-term employment obligations,” he stated.
Amukwa pointed out that the Marine Resources Act of 2000 makes provision for governmental quotas only in emergencies.
What was meant to be a temporary measure has now become standard practice.
He warned that the short-term nature of governmental quota auctions is already leading to investment uncertainty, job losses and a decline in value-addition.
“We are worried that Namibia’s fisheries are shifting from rights-based, long-term management to short-term, open-access management – against the letter and spirit of the Marine Resources Act,” Amukwa told deputy minister of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Land Reform, Ruth Masake.
This was among the concerns raised by the industry during the annual fisheries’ address at Walvis Bay.
Since the introduction of fishing quota auctions in 2020, the government has raised more than N$1.2 billion, with the inaugural auction alone generating N$627.9 million.
Despite the significant revenue generated, industry players argue that the auctions are disadvantaging Namibian rights holders, creating investment uncertainty, and shifting the sector away from long-term sustainability.
Amukwa said the auction system, which is not provided for under the Act, favours mainly foreign operators who can afford high bids, to the disadvantage of Namibian companies and new rights holders. “The auction system is creating uncertainty in fishing operations because no one can predict how much quota they will win next season. No one can invest long-term under such conditions,” he reasoned.
Another local fishing operator, National Assembly member Vetaruhe Kandorozu, urged government to withdraw from business operations and leave the industry to Namibians.
“How do we compete against our own government? You are a regulator, and at the same time a businessman. We vote for you, and now we are competing with you,” he stated.
He called on the government to rather divide the quotas among local operators, and increase the levy.
“Now you say you want to empower us, but at the same time you invite foreigners to take part in auctions. They are the only ones who can afford it. Please, get out of the business. It’s that simple,” he pleaded.
Kandorozu added that by empowering Namibians properly, they would be able to own and maintain vessels, run businesses independently, and push out foreign dominance in the sector.
The deputy minister assured the industry that her office remains open to ideas and concerns.
“I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders, guided by the President’s call for unity of resources, beneficiation and youth empowerment. The door is open. The platform is there. My office is open to all of you,” Masake said.
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