Fisheries minister denies renting patrol boat
The minister of fisheries and marine resources, Derek Klazen, has denied an allegation that the ministry is renting a vessel to carry out fisheries patrols while its own patrol boats are “rotting in the harbour”.
The allegation, made in a video that circulated on social media, claims that the ministry is using the taxpayer’s money to rent the vessel MV Ocean Warrior.
"Firstly, the ministry is not renting the vessel as it is being claimed in the video, and it is not the first time that the MV Ocean Warrior comes to Namibia," Klazen said.
The statement refers to 2019, when both patrol vessels belonging to the ministry were undergoing maintenance.
The ministry then entered into an agreement with the organisations Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) and Sea Shepherd Global (SSG) for the loan of the patrol vessel between April and October 2019, Klazen said.
Under the agreement, the Namibian government only paid the salaries of the law enforcement officers from the ministry and the police serving on board of the Ocean Warrior.
"SSG provided the MV Ocean Warrior, a civilian offshore patrol vessel, and its crew at their cost (i.e. covering all expenses of the vessel, including oil and food for all on board), and the Government of the Republic of Namibia, through the MFMR and Nampol, only covered the salary expenses of the law enforcement officers (fisheries inspectors and Nampol Water Wing officers) who were placed on board the Ocean Warrior to enforce our laws, as well as providing parking facilities at MFMR jetty when the vessel is in port," the minister said.
Sea Shepherd Global (SSG) is an international non-profit marine wildlife conservation organisation, working to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans.
"In December 2021, the fisheries patrol vessel Nathaniel Maxuilili became incapacitated due to a main engine breakdown during sea trial following her annual major dry-docking maintenance schedule.
“The reduced patrolling capacity due to the breakdown prompted the MFMR to approach SSG for another collaboration to ensure continued monitoring control and presence in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," the minister said.
He assured the public of the government’s commitment to act in the best interest of its people by strengthening its capacity to combat illegal fishing.
The allegation, made in a video that circulated on social media, claims that the ministry is using the taxpayer’s money to rent the vessel MV Ocean Warrior.
"Firstly, the ministry is not renting the vessel as it is being claimed in the video, and it is not the first time that the MV Ocean Warrior comes to Namibia," Klazen said.
The statement refers to 2019, when both patrol vessels belonging to the ministry were undergoing maintenance.
The ministry then entered into an agreement with the organisations Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) and Sea Shepherd Global (SSG) for the loan of the patrol vessel between April and October 2019, Klazen said.
Under the agreement, the Namibian government only paid the salaries of the law enforcement officers from the ministry and the police serving on board of the Ocean Warrior.
"SSG provided the MV Ocean Warrior, a civilian offshore patrol vessel, and its crew at their cost (i.e. covering all expenses of the vessel, including oil and food for all on board), and the Government of the Republic of Namibia, through the MFMR and Nampol, only covered the salary expenses of the law enforcement officers (fisheries inspectors and Nampol Water Wing officers) who were placed on board the Ocean Warrior to enforce our laws, as well as providing parking facilities at MFMR jetty when the vessel is in port," the minister said.
Sea Shepherd Global (SSG) is an international non-profit marine wildlife conservation organisation, working to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans.
"In December 2021, the fisheries patrol vessel Nathaniel Maxuilili became incapacitated due to a main engine breakdown during sea trial following her annual major dry-docking maintenance schedule.
“The reduced patrolling capacity due to the breakdown prompted the MFMR to approach SSG for another collaboration to ensure continued monitoring control and presence in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," the minister said.
He assured the public of the government’s commitment to act in the best interest of its people by strengthening its capacity to combat illegal fishing.
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