Renthia Kaimbi
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has denied claims that it secretly reduced fishing quotas.
The ministry said the process was transparent and guided by science.
In a press release issued yesterday, the ministry said the management of Namibia’s horse mackerel stock follows clear legal procedures and relies on scientific advice.
The clarification follows the setting of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2026 horse mackerel season. The ministry confirmed that the Cabinet approved a TAC of 197 000 metric tonnes, a 5% reduction from the 208 000 metric tonnes allowed in 2025.
The ministry said the reduction is a “proactive and precautionary management decision” aimed at protecting the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
It said the process used to determine the TAC is statutory, consultative, and based on the best available scientific data.
Addressing claims of over-catching, the ministry said companies that exceeded their allocated quotas during the 2024 season have already been penalised.
It said penalties were applied through deductions from future quota allocations, using fully reconciled catch figures.
The ministry also explained recent changes to how quotas are allocated. In the past, right holders received a mix of freezer vessel quotas and wet fish quotas. After consultations with the industry, the ministry introduced a new approach that aligns quota allocations with a company’s actual investments.
Under the new system, companies that invested in freezer facilities receive freezer quotas.
The ministry said this change reduces inefficiencies and ends repeated requests for quota conversions.
It said the system still operates within the policy of maintaining a 60:40 split in allocations to support onshore processing.
The ministry said it remains committed to transparency, lawful governance and the sustainable management of Namibia’s marine resources, and that it will continue engaging with the fishing industry.
