Namibia is a member to regional organisation and host to number of regional programmes embarked on the Assessment of the Marine Fisheries and Research programme commonly known as the Benguela Environmental and Fisheries Interaction and Training Programme (BENEFIT) and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLEME) and the Intergovernmental Organisation for Marketing Information and Co-operation Services for Fish and Fishery Products in Africa (INFOPECHE).

BENEFIT facilitates research collaboration between Angola, South Africa and Namibia and support training of national scientists from these countries at university level. Further information on BENEFIT visit: www.benefit.org.na

BCLME is a multi-sectoral initiative by Angola, Namibia and South Africa, focusing on numerous management issues of a trans-boundary nature, including the status of shared fish stocks and appropriate management measures, ecosystem-fish stock interactions, pollution studies, habitat destruction/alteration and biodiversity and environmental monitoring. Further information visit: www.bclme.org

INFOPECHE is an Intergovernmental Organisation for Marketing Information and Co-operation Services for Fish and Fishery Products in Africa (INFOPECHE). Namibia becomes a member of INFOPECHE in 1993. In 2001 INFOPECHE and the Government of Namibia established a regional office INFOSA to serve the Southern part of Africa –SADC. The overall objectives of INFOSA are:

• To contribute to the development and modernisation of the fisheries sector in southern Africa.
• To contribute to a more balanced supply of fisheries products in the region.
• To make best use of the export opportunities within and outside Africa.
• To promote technical and economic co-operation among contracting partners.

The NSI is governed by the Namibian Standards Council (NSC). The NSI is an established and functional national standards body in Namibia, capable of:

• Developing, adopting and applying standards;
• Providing accurate measurement traceability to the international standards (SI) through the meteorology division;
• Providing reliable testing especially for food such as fish and fishery products including shellfish, beef and agro-products and rendering food safety technical support to the aquaculture, fishing and other industries through regular tests conducted at the NSI Biotoxins and Microbiology laboratories at Walvis Bay and through NSI Inspection and Certification

Which provides advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources. The advisory council shall consist of the Permanent Secretary and such other persons as the Minister may appoint, of whom. 7 (a) one shall be a staff member of the Ministry; (b) five shall be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have knowledge in matters relating to marine resources or any other expertise of relevance to the issues on which the Minister is required to consult the advisory council under this Act; and (c) five shall be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, fairly represent the fishing industry or employees in the fishing industry.

The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations was formed in 2003 superseding the previous Ad-Hoc committee which was started in 1995. All the Associations in the Namibian Fishing Industry are members of this Association, which main aim is and to liaise with Government bodies, public and private establishments and individuals on matters of general and specific interest.

The Namibian Hake Association was formed in 1992 to protect and further the interests of the Namibian Hake Industry; Provide a forum for collaboration and discussion between members; Negotiate for the entire hake industry with all government departments as and when required; Encourage rational fishing by its members by pursuing practices with due regard to recognized fisheries conservation concepts. Membership of the association is open to any hake concessionaire engaged in activities derived from hake fishing in Namibian waters, provided that the application is approved by a majority of members.

Founded in 1996 for all holders of Namibian fishing rights for monk and sole. The Association serves as a forum for communication among members and with government. It actively participates in local and international projects to achieve optimum sustainable utilization of the monk and sole resource.

Was formed for all holders of small pelagic fishing rights. The Association serves as a forum for communication among member and with the government on all issues concerning the small pelagic fishing sector. The members actively participate in research surveys aimed at rebuilding the pilchard resource and ensuring its optimum sustainable utilization.

Was founded in 1992 for all holders of Namibian fishing rights for tuna and long lining of hake. The Association serves as a forum for communication among members and with the authorities. It co-operates closely with the government to obtain a reasonable share of the quota on migratory and straddling fish stocks appearing in Namibian and international waters.

Founded in 1999 for all holders of Namibian fishing rights for orange roughy. The association provides opportunities for collaboration and discussion amongst its members, as well as liaise with Government bodies, public and private establishments on matters of general and specific interest.