The Small Pelagic Fisheries Association welcomes the Cabinet decision of August 5, announced by Minister of Information Emma Theofelus, introducing stricter bycatch regulations including a 2% limit.
Chairperson Johny Doeseb sees this as progressive leadership that goes beyond international standards, which typically allow up to 5% bycatch. "The measures underline Namibia’s commitment to ecosystem protection, responsible resource use, and sustainable fisheries. The association also praises the government for promoting food security, economic diversification, job creation, and environmental protection," he said.
Doeseb emphasised the important role of the Fisheries Observers Agency in providing real-time monitoring at sea and at landing sites, calling for consistent enforcement to protect compliant operators from illegal and wasteful practices. The Cabinet decision prioritizes reducing indiscriminate fishing practices, tightening sanctions such as license suspensions for repeat offenders, and improving transparency through public disclosure of violations. The Ministry of Agriculture will implement the new rules, which allow companies to retain up to 2% bycatch. Exceeding this limit will incur higher fees and loss of fishing rights.
Bycatch fees will increase from 15% to 50%. Severe or repeated violations may lead to confiscation of equipment, seizure of vessels, and deduction of excess catch from future quotas. Despite the moratorium, sardines continue to be landed as bycatch. Figures show that sardine bycatch in the horse mackerel fishery rose from about 6.5 tons in 2023 to roughly 12.6 tons in 2024. The Fisheries Ministry points out that landings worth over N$23 million within two months indicate some bycatch is deliberate. The national sardine stock remains below the biomass threshold required for reopening the fishery.
For 2025, the Cabinet approved a total allowable catch of 10,000 tons of sardines for government purposes. The moratorium will remain in place for at least three years or until the biomass target is met. Sardines caught under this quota must be caught using environmentally friendly methods and processed locally.
Chairperson Johny Doeseb sees this as progressive leadership that goes beyond international standards, which typically allow up to 5% bycatch. "The measures underline Namibia’s commitment to ecosystem protection, responsible resource use, and sustainable fisheries. The association also praises the government for promoting food security, economic diversification, job creation, and environmental protection," he said.
Doeseb emphasised the important role of the Fisheries Observers Agency in providing real-time monitoring at sea and at landing sites, calling for consistent enforcement to protect compliant operators from illegal and wasteful practices. The Cabinet decision prioritizes reducing indiscriminate fishing practices, tightening sanctions such as license suspensions for repeat offenders, and improving transparency through public disclosure of violations. The Ministry of Agriculture will implement the new rules, which allow companies to retain up to 2% bycatch. Exceeding this limit will incur higher fees and loss of fishing rights.
Bycatch fees will increase from 15% to 50%. Severe or repeated violations may lead to confiscation of equipment, seizure of vessels, and deduction of excess catch from future quotas. Despite the moratorium, sardines continue to be landed as bycatch. Figures show that sardine bycatch in the horse mackerel fishery rose from about 6.5 tons in 2023 to roughly 12.6 tons in 2024. The Fisheries Ministry points out that landings worth over N$23 million within two months indicate some bycatch is deliberate. The national sardine stock remains below the biomass threshold required for reopening the fishery.
For 2025, the Cabinet approved a total allowable catch of 10,000 tons of sardines for government purposes. The moratorium will remain in place for at least three years or until the biomass target is met. Sardines caught under this quota must be caught using environmentally friendly methods and processed locally.
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