Renthia Kaimbi
Government officials, scientists, industry leaders and community representatives gathered in Swakopmund last week to confront gaps in marine research and address growing pressure on the country’s ocean resources during the two-day Ocean in Focus Symposium.
The two-day Ocean in Focus Symposium, held from 18 to 19 February, aimed to identify knowledge gaps and guide research, policy and investment in Namibia’s coastal and marine areas.
The event was facilitated by the Namibia Nature Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform through the Namibia Islands and Marine Protected Areas Project (NIMPA+).
Donor support came from the Blue Action Fund and the Blue Benguela Partnership.
Opening the symposium, Rudi Cloete, director of aquaculture and inland fisheries at the ministry, framed the discussions around responsibility and evidence.
“It is my honour to welcome you to this symposium on identifying knowledge gaps to guide the research, policy, and investments in Namibia’s coastal and marine environments,” he said.
“Your participation reflects a shared recognition for Namibia’s marine and coastal environment because it’s not just our national asset; it’s a shared responsibility.”
Cloete said Namibia has strong knowledge in commercial fisheries but weaker understanding in areas such as benthic biodiversity, climate impacts, marine mammals, pollution, socio-cultural dimensions and ecosystem management. He said scattered data across institutions limits its use.
He stressed the need for evidence-based governance.
“Without reliable data, we cannot assess ecosystem health. Without long-term monitoring, we cannot detect climate change or cumulative impacts. Without social and economic research, we cannot understand how coastal communities are affected by policy decisions or environmental change,” he said.
He called on universities to expand applied research and work with government and industry to turn findings into practical policy tools.
He urged the private sector to invest in research and monitoring rather than focus only on extraction.
A major concern raised during the symposium was the state of Namibia’s sardine and pilchard stocks.
Fisheries ministry oceanographer Chris Bartholomae said the moratorium on sardine fishing has not achieved its target of rebuilding stocks to one million tonnes by 2025. The moratorium has now been extended for three years.
He said full recovery may take at least a decade and warned that continued pilchard quotas weaken the purpose of the moratorium. He argued that bycatch practices allow overfishing to continue and that most remaining sardines are juveniles needed for recovery.
“The collapse of Namibia’s sardine population from 40 million tonnes in the 1960s to a mere 50 thousand tonnes in 2015 was a result of overfishing, unregulated line-fishing and bycatch unaccountability by midwater trawl vessels,” he said.
“For sardines to repopulate, there should be no catches allowed for at least a decade; otherwise, the species is doomed. Climate change adds to the problem.”
Bartholomae explained that sardines play a key role in the Benguela Current system by converting plankton into protein that supports larger fish, seabirds and marine mammals.
He noted that while horse mackerel supports employment, its value is lower and stock size has declined.
Speakers also highlighted the nutritional value of sardines and pilchards, noting their role in food security and public health.
Marine biologist Graca D’Almeida, director of resource management at the ministry, urged policymakers to prioritise local needs when addressing ecosystem challenges. She said global partnerships must not overlook the domestic economy.
Experts said recovery of sardine stocks may require joint management with Angola because of the shared Benguela Current.
They acknowledged that workers affected by restrictions would need support but argued that long-term benefits would outweigh short-term losses.
Participants discussed oceanography, biodiversity, fisheries management, climate change and the blue economy.
They examined marine spatial use, data-sharing platforms and ways to strengthen cooperation between science, policy and industry. Students and community representatives also took part in exhibitions and discussions.
“Let us engage openly. Let us challenge assumptions. Let us identify the gaps honestly. And most importantly, let us commit to collaborative action beyond these two days,” Cloete said.
The symposium ended with agreement that future decisions on Namibia’s ocean must rest on science, coordination and sustained commitment.
