Africa-Press – Namibia. Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform minister Inge Zaamwani said there is currently no targeted pilchard fishing taking place.
She admitted that some of the bycatch could be a deliberate act.
The minister made these remarks while defending the ongoing pilchard fishing moratorium. Zaamwani stated that recent landings are undermining efforts to revive the species, which was once a key contributor to Namibia’s marine economy.
This follows video footage and landing sheets showing that over N$23 million of pilchards were landed between May and June this year as bycatches.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, she acknowledged widespread concerns over reported pilchard bycatch by midwater trawlers, despite the moratorium still being in effect since 2018.
Zaamwani said recent stock assessments indicate a slight recovery, with the pilchard population now estimated at 850 000 metric tonnes.
“However, it remains below the one million metric tonne scientific benchmark needed to reopen the fishery. While surveys show a positive trend, pilchards remain vulnerable due to their short life cycle and susceptibility to environmental changes. Recovery to biologically sustainable levels is crucial,” she noted.
Concerns
New Era recently reported that six midwater trawlers landed over 1.4 million kilogrammes of pilchards in single trips during two months.
Landing sheets seen by New Era show that the vessel Komesho alone landed 769 160kg worth N$12.3 million, followed by Tutungeni, Jupiter, Mediva Star, Cavema Star and Katanga.
This has fuelled accusations that certain operators are intentionally harvesting pilchards under the guise of bycatch.
This claim is backed by a December 2024 report from the ministry’s acting director of policy, planning and economics Ndesheetelwa Shitenga.
“Regulations permit only 5% of a vessel’s catch to consist of bycatch, but the increased volumes suggest high-value species like pilchards are being targeted,” the report warned.
Zaamwani admitted that the ministry has received similar reports and is treating them seriously.
“When reports are received concerning alleged vessels involved in the illegal fishing of pilchard, they are escalated to our monitoring, control and surveillance division for investigation. Observers have also instructed vessels to relocate when high pilchard volumes are detected,” she said.
However, she acknowledged that the persistence of such catches across multiple vessels signals the complexity of bycatch management.
“The increase in pilchard landings offers reasonable grounds to suggest that this bycatch may not always be unintentional, but rather a deliberate act. This directly impacts our recovery efforts,” she stated.
Stronger enforcement
The minister also indicated that current penalties are failing to deter illegal fishing.
She added that the ministry is exploring stricter bycatch limits, revising species values to disincentivise pilchard targeting and introducing tougher penalties.
“These efforts are designed to ensure that bycatch regulations are respected and the recovery of Namibia’s pilchard stock is not compromised,” Zaamwami said.
She confirmed that the ministry will consult its scientists to assess the biomass through targeted stock assessments.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainable fisheries management. I am confident that these proactive steps will contribute significantly to the long-term health of our marine ecosystem,” she remarked.
She said Fisheries Observers have directed vessels to relocate to alternative fishing grounds, directives which have been complied with.
A notable presence of vessels catching pilchards across various areas underscores the complexities of bycatch management.
The ministry is therefore actively exploring a range of measures to enhance compliance.
These measures are also designed to ensure that bycatch regulations are respected and the recovery of Namibia’s pilchard stock is not compromised.
Divided reaction
The midwater trawler sector has denied the allegations. Horse Mackerel Association chairperson Johanna Shiweda dismissed the claims as “unfounded and harmful”.
“There is absolutely no incentive for our members to target pilchards. Bycatch adds costs due to storage, levies and mandatory reporting. Our vessels are monitored by onboard observers in real-time,” she said.
On the other hand, the Wet Landed Small Pelagic Association insisted that the midwater fleet is deliberately harvesting pilchards, thereby threatening stock recovery, marine sustainability and local job creation.
“These are not isolated incidents. We’re talking about N$23 million worth of a species under moratorium. That’s not bycatch – it’s illegal and deliberate,” said chairperson Johny Doeseb.
He raised concerns about the dominance of midwater vessels over quotas and their impact on the onshore economy.
“These vessels land nothing onshore. Thousands of Namibians remain jobless because of this. We need real action,” he said, urging stronger enforcement and collaboration with government to protect the country’s blue economy.
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