Namibia's maritime heritage celebrated in Lüderitz

The Lüderitz Crayfish Festival has grown from a local celebration into a national platform of unity, resilience, and economic opportunity. 

“This festival should be a driver of inclusive economic participation, strengthen regional development, and ensure that the emerging opportunities within the //Kharas Region translate into real, lasting, and equitable benefits for all Namibians. It is far more than a cultural event. It is a strategic economic platform that brings together investors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers under one roof,” the Vice President of Namibia, Lucia Witbooi, emphasised in her speech at the official opening ceremony of the 19th Lüderitz Crayfish Festival in the harbour town on 1 May. 

Witbooi said that the festival exhibits the immense potential of the //Kharas Region as a destination for tourism, trade, industrial development, and sustainable investment. “It stimulates local enterprise, strengthens value chains, and expands opportunities, particularly for our youth, women, and small and medium enterprises. It has become a proud celebration of Namibia's maritime heritage and reflects the very foundation of our Blue Economy. This strategic national asset has nourished families, generated employment, and anchored coastal communities across generations.”

According to the Vice President, the festival also demonstrates in practical terms how strategic collaboration can advance national objectives. “This can be done, particularly through strengthening the Blue Economy, promoting responsible resource management, deepening local value addition, creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities, and changing the livelihood of people. It is through these platforms that we move from policy intent to tangible impact; from vision to implementation; and from potential to shared prosperity.”

She added, “The festival also pays recognition to the discipline, stewardship, and resilience of our people who have, over time, transformed natural legacy into economic value. It honours our fishing traditions, the resilience of our coastal communities, and the enduring relationship between our people and the Atlantic Ocean.”

Witbooi further said that the theme “Crayfish & Currents: Where Heritage Meets Innovation” speaks directly to Namibians and symbolizes the new wave of sustainable energy and economic innovation flowing in the town of Lüderitz. “It compels us to embrace new initiatives towards achieving sustainable development that preserves cultural identity while fostering economic growth. Lüderitz is no longer a town defined just by its fishing heritage; it is rapidly emerging as a strategic growth point within Namibia’s evolving energy landscape. The advancement of oil and gas exploration activities, coupled with the ambitious green hydrogen initiatives underway in the //Kharas Region, positions Lüderitz as a critical hub in both the regional and global energy transition.”

According to Witbooi, the connection of long-standing traditional industries with new and emerging sectors presents both opportunity and responsibility. “It calls upon all of us to act with foresight, coordination, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity. We must ensure that this transformation is not exclusive but inclusive, not concentrated but widely shared. Local communities must not remain observers of change taking place around them. They must be empowered as active participants, beneficiaries, and co-creators of the new economic platforms,” the Vice President said.