Namibia's pilchard, rock lobster in precarious state

"During the most recent scientific survey, conducted in March 2022, recruitment was found to be poor for the ninth consecutive year, and the spawning stock biomass of pilchards was also found to be insignificant," fisheries minister Derek Klazen told industry stakeholders on the occasion of his annual address in Walvis Bay.

According to the minister, the rock lobster stock is also in a poor state, with signs that the fishing pressure exerted on the resource has been too high. "We have worryingly observed that up to 80 percent of undersized lobsters are still being caught, and remedial actions are therefore required in order to avoid this stock from collapsing."

The ministry imposed a moratorium on the pilchard stock and will continue its research programmes to monitor it closely and reopen the fishery once the stock has recovered to a biologically sustainable level.

Otis Daniels