For months now, the plight of the fishermen from Namibia’s Erongo region has remained a painful reminder of the unfinished business in our fisheries sector. This week, when a group of these men once again journeyed from the coast to Windhoek to hand over a petition to the Minister of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Land Reform, it was not merely another act of protest; it was a cry of fatigue, frustration, and hope. These are people who once powered the fishing industry of Walvis Bay, Lüderitz, and Henties Bay, an industry that is both the pride and lifeblood of coastal Namibia. Yet, years after the infamous 2015 “fishrot” scandal and subsequent quota reforms, many of these fishermen remain stranded between policy and politics.
The time has come for this saga to be brought to an end. The Ministry must act decisively and compassionately to restore stability, fairness, and trust in the fisheries sector. But equally, the fishermen and their unions must be realistic in their demands and understand that sustainability, not sentiment, must guide national policy.
A long road of disappointment
The fishermen’s grievances are not without merit. Many were retrenched after the 2015 fisheries corruption scandal reshaped the industry. Promises were made, and partly fulfilled, under various government interventions to reinstate or re-employ affected fishermen through cooperative arrangements. Yet, nearly a decade later, too many are still waiting.
While some have been absorbed into new fishing ventures or employment schemes tied to government-awarded quotas, others claim that only a fraction of the promised jobs materialised and that the conditions offered were far from those agreed upon. Disillusioned, many have continued to petition the Ministry, often travelling hundreds of kilometres to Windhoek to plead their case.
Their latest petition, however, reflects a growing impatience and a tendency toward unrealistic expectations. Among the demands reportedly made are full reinstatement of all fishermen to pre-retrenchment positions, permanent employment with government support, and significant wage increases, demands that may not align with the economic realities of the industry or the country.
Unrealistic demands undermine genuine grievances
Let us be frank: Namibia’s fishing sector cannot operate as a social welfare programme. It is a commercial industry, dependent on sustainability, efficiency, and profitability. The government cannot simply instruct private companies to absorb all retrenched fishermen or dictate employment terms beyond what the industry can support.
The fishermen’s plight is genuine, but if they continue to couch their demands in absolutes – “all or nothing”, “full reinstatement”, “government jobs for all” – they risk alienating potential allies and delaying the very justice they seek.
Trade unions representing the fishermen must also shoulder some responsibility. Leadership must guide members toward constructive negotiation, not endless confrontation. An insistence on the impossible only leads to stalemate. The fishermen’s struggle should not be reduced to a cycle of protests and petitions that yield little progress and much bitterness.
The ministry must show leadership
However, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Land Reform must not hide behind bureaucratic caution either. While the fishermen must temper their demands, the Ministry must show leadership and empathy. It cannot continue to manage this crisis piecemeal, allocating quotas here, offering temporary jobs there, or responding reactively to every petition.
A comprehensive and transparent settlement strategy is needed, one that balances social justice with economic sustainability.
The ministry should:
- Conduct a full audit of the affected fishermen, verifying how many remain unemployed, how many have been placed, and what their current living conditions are.
- Establish a permanent forum where fishermen, unions, fishing companies, and government officials meet quarterly to address ongoing issues and ensure accountability.
- Consider targeted reemployment schemes within community-based fisheries, aquaculture projects, or small-scale cooperatives, supported by government but managed sustainably.
- Facilitate skills retraining and certification programmes so that fishermen can diversify their income sources, including into related marine or tourism industries.
- Ensure transparency in quota allocations so that any new fishing rights linked to job creation genuinely benefit workers, not middlemen.
By taking these steps, the Ministry would not only demonstrate good faith but also help rebuild public trust in a sector still haunted by corruption and mistrust.
A shared responsibility
At its core, this conflict reflects a deeper struggle over dignity and livelihood. The fishermen want recognition for their role in building Namibia’s blue economy; the government wants to ensure equitable, sustainable management of resources. Both goals are valid, and both can coexist.
But that coexistence will require humility and compromise. The fishermen must recognise that the industry’s resources are finite and that government cannot create jobs beyond what the sea can sustain. The Ministry, in turn, must recognise that behind every petition is a family that has waited too long for answers.
It is time for both sides to leave behind slogans and confront the hard, practical work of rebuilding livelihoods. Enough of endless petitions and promises. The people of Erongo deserve resolution, not another chapter of uncertainty.
The Ministry has an opportunity now to lead decisively, to bridge the gap between economic realism and social justice. The fishermen, too, must seize this moment to recalibrate their demands and work within the bounds of what is fair and feasible.
Let this be the last time they must walk the long road to Windhoek in search of answers. Let the Ministry’s response be not another promise, but a plan.
Only then will this long, painful saga finally come to an end, and the dignity of the fishermen of Erongo be rightfully restored.
