Africa-Press – Namibia. Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to protecting marine resources and strengthening maritime security following a strategic visit to the fisheries monitoring centre in Walvis Bay, where she was briefed on the country’s vessel tracking system, its successes and ongoing challenges.
The President, accompanied by Vice President Lucia Witbooi, Fisheries Minister Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi and Justice Minister Wise Immanuel, visited the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources’ regional office in Walvis Bay to assess the performance of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).
Photos: Namibian Presidency
The satellite-based system, operated under the Marine Resources Act, is used to monitor licensed fishing vessels within Namibia’s waters and beyond, helping authorities combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing while supporting regional enforcement cooperation.
Officials reported that over the past 14 years, the system has enabled the detection and arrest of vessels violating fisheries laws, strengthened port inspections through modern technologies such as body cameras, and improved coordination between enforcement agencies. All vessels entering Namibian ports are subject to strict compliance checks.
However, the President was also briefed on challenges facing the system, including high maintenance and upgrade costs, gaps in the legal framework, and emerging maritime crimes such as illegal fishing, human trafficking and drug smuggling. Efforts to strengthen cooperation with the Namibian Police and Navy were highlighted as key to addressing these risks.
With 144 licensed vessels, 135 of which are actively reporting, the VMS remains central to Namibia’s fisheries management system. Combined with patrol vessels, aerial surveillance and inter-agency collaboration, it positions Namibia among countries with advanced marine monitoring capabilities.
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