The development of the Namibian marine fishing was made possible following the independence of Namibia in 1990, by the declaration of an EEZ of 200 nautical miles and the full control obtained over the marine resources.

Until 2020 it has been estimated that out of the more than 200 fleet that operate in Namibian waters, more than 80 percent are Namibian owned with the bulk of the catches exploit by the following fisheries.

The fishery sector contributes an average of 3.5 percent to Namibia’s real GDP. It is administered by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and is regarded as an important sector because:

• it is the fourth-largest foreign currency earner (since 2012);
• it is a big employer, especially in the Erongo region, employing 25,000 people in 2012; and
• it has potential to contribute to the country’s food security and livelihood diversification.

Nearly half the harvested fish is exported to the SADC region, and domestic consumption is about 10 percent of the harvest. Fish exports increased by 42 percent since 2012 following larger catches and increased value addition.

Namibia has one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world, based on the Benguela Current System, one of the four eastern boundary upwelling systems in the world (the others are off North – West Africa, off California and off Peru). These systems support rich populations of fish, which form the basis for the Namibian marine fisheries sector.

Namibian horse mackerel is the dominating species in terms of volume in the Namibian waters. It contains only three to eight percent body fat, it is both healthy and highly nutritional as well as a vital staple food source for many nations in the region. Hake products are of good quality and increasingly in demand in Europe and other international market for the catering and retail markets.

The Orange Roughy is another of Namibia’s marine resources. This fish, often referred to as the ‘diamond of the sea’, is a rare, high-priced addition to Namibia’s exports in this sector. Only commercially exploited in 1994, Namibia has become the world’s second largest supplier of Orange Roughy.

Other marine exports include Rock Lobster; Crab; Oysters; Monk; Tuna; Pilchards, Seaweed, Anchovy, Redeye, Snoek, Sole, Kingklip, Panga, John Dory, Angelfish, Shark, Swordfish, Kob, Barbel, Squid, Cardinal Fish, Cape Guarnard, Grenadier, Jacopever, Chub Mackerel, Octopus and Mullet.

The state of the stocks is fair for most of the species, despite declining landings in recent years. However, it is the Pilchard stocks that are of much concern to the nation.

The Pilchard population which was seriously reduced during the 1990s due to negative environmental circumstances between 1993 and 1995 (so-called ‘Benguela-Niño’) and the negative effects of over-fishing in the period before independence, has been rebuilt.

In 2001, the stock assessment was indicating less than 100,000MT but after the decision to set zero quotas for pilchard in 2002 in order to allow the rebuilding of the stocks, the adult stocks of this short-lived species are now estimated to be over 800,000 MT.

Besides the marine captured fisheries, Namibia also has a small but vibrant aquaculture sector. Marine aquaculture enterprises currently produce abalone, oysters, mussels and seaweed in Luderitz sea lagoons and salt-pond of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.

Inland captured fisheries exist in the north-east and north-west of Namibia, where various types of tilapia species and catfish are harvested from rivers and flood plains. Commercial freshwater aquaculture of tilapia and catfish is also undertaken.

Namibia’s marine capture fisheries sector is exclusively industrial. The demersal fishery targets mainly Hake in deep water and Monkfish, Sole, Snoek and Kingklip inshore.

The mid-water trawlers target horse mackerel, purse-seiners target pilchard, juvenile horse mackerel and anchovy. Other fisheries at the industrial level include Tuna Fishing, Rock Lobster fishing, Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishing and Line-Fishing (Kob and west Steenbras).

Marine catches are landed at two major ports: Walvis Bay and Luderitz. Due to its strategic location in the middle of the fishing grounds, most of the landings and processing plants are located in Walvis Bay.

Currently a total number of 30 marine resources processing plants operate in Namibia. Due to the emphasis placed on creation of employment, catches are almost entirely industrial and onshore processing particularly for wet fish including hake is promoted. The industry involves catching, processing and marketing of fish and fish products. About 85 per cent of the fish landed is processed in Namibia and then exported.

Namibia has no noteworthy natural freshwater bodies suitable for capture fisheries exploitation. Some rivers on the borders to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the Caprivi and Okavango region are used for limited fishing activities.

There are no significant lakes either, the only permanent water bodies being man-made dams and sinkhole lakes. The perennial rivers along the border provide over 1 million hectars of flood-plain wetland with fisheries potential, varying by season at around 2,800 tonnes per annum.

Commercial Marine Aquaculture (mariculture) is currently dominated by oyster production in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Luderitz. Both Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and European oyster (Ostrea edulis) are grown. Culture methods include baskets suspended from rafts, longlines and onshore raceways and ponds.

Huge potential to increase production exists in Namibia including the 1,500 km largely uninhabited coastline, unpolluted high quality marine waters, high natural primary productivity of the seawater, availability of inexpensive fish by –products from established fish processing sector for inclusion in wet aqua-feeds and well –established processing, packaging and marketing systems due to the marine capture fisheries that can be adopted for aquaculture purpose.

However, lack of finances and lack of interest by financial institutions to finance fish farmers might hamper the further expansions and development of this sector.

Namibia’s aquaculture sector is in its infancy, although aquaculture activities are believed to have started in the late 1800’s with the introduction of Carps, Bass and Tilapia.

Studies show that good freshwater aquaculture development potential exists along rivers such as the Okavango, Kunene, Orange and Zambezi, as well as in dams.

Commercial freshwater aquaculture of Tilapia and Catfish is already undertaken in Hardap. In addition, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Ministry of Trade and Industry have developed six community-based intensive freshwater aquaculture facilities in Omusati, Okavango and Caprivi region producing Tilapia and Catfish for local distribution. Fingerings are also being produced and distributed to small scale farmers in the north for their own production.

The production of freshwater and brackish water species in the Oshikoto Region is also being considered for future development. The long –term strategy of this activity is to apply the lessons learned to other regions. Local species already adapted to culture requirements shall be the first priority (e.g. Oreochromis andersonii and Clarias gariepinus).

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource is also aiming to adopt two pronged approach for the development of this sector.

One is freshwater aquaculture, aimed at alleviating poverty, creating employment and satisfying local consumption needs. The second approach involves seawater aquaculture, which includes the culture of oysters and other molluscs for export.

Namibia’s arid climate means that inland freshwater fisheries sector is relatively small. Only in the north-eastern and north western regions of Caprivi, Okavango, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana are sizeable freshwater fisheries found.

Perennial rivers provide over 1 million hectares of flood-plain wetlands with fisheries potential, estimated at approximatly 2,800 tonnes per annum worth US$3 million (N$ 22 million) at average value of US$ 1.25/kg, consisting mostly of Tilapias and Catfish.

About 50 percent of the rural population live in the northern regions and derive food, income and informal employment from inland fish resources.

In Kavango and Caprivi Region more than 100,000 people depend on this resource for their daily protein needs. Freshwater fish consumption in the Caprivi region ranks over beef, game and poultry and also has a significant economic value for the communities.

The most important fish species are Silver Catfish, Squeaker, Bulldog, Tigerfish, and Tilapia, Silver Robber, Dashtail Barb and Sharptooth Catfish.

Recreational fishery is also a major business sector in the Caprivi region. The importance of freshwater fish resources is emphasised especially during periods of drought when the crop fails and the people rely on fish catches from the river.

In Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto, the fishing season is seasonal and only occurs during when the Cuvelai plains are flooded during the rainy season. The quantity of fish caught depends on the extent of the flood.

The use of fishing gears varies in the different region where inland capture fishery is practised. The fishing gears are classified into traditional and modern.

In areas where there is flood plain, mostly traditional gears are used. Traditional gears include: Fish Kraal, of which women are reported to be the main users. The Trap is constructed from reeds and sedges and it is baited with locally available material such as millets porridge or grain husks. Fish spears are constructed from long, light reeds tipped with barbed, metal points. This is used to spear individual fish and is mostly exclusive used by man. Fish bow and arrows are also used. Fishing basket is constructed from plant material and has a large opening. The basket is placed in shallow water and trap large fish. Baited hooks and line are also used.

The modern gears are mostly used in deeper waters and include: Gill net, which is mainly used by men. The net is suspended in deeper waters along the bank when floods are in. Various net materials are used, constructed from various materials ranging from mosquito nets and shading cloths. Mosquito nets are mostly used by women. Drag and seine nets are used exclusively by men in the most commercial ventures.