Namibia at sea over high bycatch volumes

Namibia loses an estimated N$100 million annually to skyrocketing volumes of bycatch caught within Namibian waters, a situation that has now left the fisheries ministry to consider introducing hefty fines for offenders. Official statistics indicate that hake, horse mackerel and pilchard are the fish species most commonly caught as bycatch.Bycatch is a fish or other marine species caught unintentionally while trying to catch another type of fish.The fisheries ministry described the situation as “alarming”, adding that there are plans to introduce stiffer fines and other punitive measures to curb the situation.During a broad-based industry presentation at a high-level meeting with fishing industry stakeholders in Walvis Bay last week, the ministry expressed concern about the disturbing trend of increasing bycatch volumes reported in the hake and horse mackerel fisheries.Ministerial insiders said the bycatch phenomenon has become a lucrative source of income for fishing companies that sell the bycatch, as it is not confiscated by fisheries authorities – unlike in the past, when it was seized and auctioned to the public.“The companies know nothing will happen to them, so they do as they please. There are even instances where the bycatch is more than the target catch. A trawler can net 400 metric tonnes of the target species, but the bycatch is 700 metric tonnes. This just shows that they can fish with impunity,” an industry player who attended last week’s crisis meeting said.Hefty finesSpeaking to Namibian Sun this week, executive director in the fisheries ministry, Annely Haiphene, said levies are already in place for those caught on the wrong side of the law.“After consultations with the industry, the ministry will monitor the situation and if this high bycatch situation continues, the ministry will then introduce further punitive measures,” Haiphene said.“Recent statistics reveal that hake right holders are landing higher horse mackerel as bycatch, while horse mackerel right holders are similarly landing high hake bycatch. This is an alarming situation in light of the situation of these fisheries resources,” Haiphene stressed. Bycatches minimise gains Worryingly, despite the ministry imposing a moratorium on pilchard fishing a few years ago, fishing trawlers continue to net them as bycatch.“We are concerned; pilchards are under moratorium, but the high volume that the industry is catching is too high,” Haiphene warned. “Remember how we have a total allowable catch (TAC) that is recommended and approved to be fished in the fishing season? So if, for example, the horse mackerel companies are catching a lot of bycatches of hake, then the total at the end of the season – when the ministry does a season analysis – the total allowable catch will be exceeded,” she said.While pilchard stocks are low, Haiphene said hake and mackerel volumes are still at sustainable levels.“However, as a ministry, we are of the opinion that it has not yet reached a level that we will declare a total allowable catch and thus give quotas to whoever qualifies. But now as the resources recover, there are higher bycatches," she said."If the industry continues to catch high bycatch, the ministry is strategising what punitive measures to take," Haiphene warned.The figuresAccording to last week’s presentation, the TAC for horse mackerel has decreased from 330 000 metric tonnes over the years to 270 000 metric tonnes this year.Moreover, Cabinet has agreed to reduce the horse mackerel TAC to 208 000 metric tonnes for the 2025 fishing season.The aggregate landings for this year were reported as 144 914 metric tonnes, with 630 tonnes of bycatch.This year, the highest bycatches in mackerel fisheries were horse mackerel at 16 007 metric tonnes, hake at 12 833 tonnes, and pilchards at 12 610 tonnes.The horse mackerel biomass was recorded at 828 000 metric tonnes.The pilchard biomass was recently announced at 765 000 metric tonnes, reflecting a healthy recovery.Regarding hake, the TAC totalled 154 000 tonnes since the 2021/2022 season, while aggregate landings for this year were 114 042 tonnes, with bycatch standing at 13 467 tonnes.

Namibia at sea over high bycatch volumes

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Namibia at sea over high bycatch volumes

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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