Staff Writer
The deputy minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform, Ruthy Masake, says Namibia must expand beyond traditional fishing and invest in large-scale aquaculture.
She identified salmon farming as a new driver of industrial growth.
She was speaking at the “Unlocking Namibia’s Salmon Industry: An Opportunity for Industrialisation” seminar at the Avani Hotel on Monday.
Masake said the country needs to shift from harvest-based fishing to farming-based production of high-value species such as Atlantic salmon.
She said this move would strengthen agro-processing and aquaculture value chains while supporting economic diversification.
Masake noted that salmon ranks among the most traded fish species in the world and serves premium markets in Europe, Asia and North America. She said establishing a salmon industry in Namibia could attract foreign direct investment, create skilled and semi-skilled jobs, improve cold-chain systems and increase export earnings.
She said salmon farming would also stimulate related sectors such as feed production, logistics, packaging, research and technology development. Masake stressed that women and youth must form part of the industry through targeted training, access to capital and support for youth-owned enterprises.
Meanwhile, National Planning Commission (NPC) Kaire Mbuende said offshore salmon farming in Lüderitz positions Namibia to become the first African country to introduce industrial-scale Atlantic salmon production.
He said the project aligns with the country’s economic diversification agenda by adding a new export-orientated sector.
He said the phased development model would generate employment across multiple levels, including offshore operations, vessel management, processing, veterinary services and research.
He also pointed to planned investment in vessels, net-pen systems, hatcheries and logistics, building on existing port and fisheries infrastructure in Lüderitz.
Mbuende said modern offshore systems and science-based site selection will protect the Benguela Current ecosystem. Masake said strict environmental standards, biosecurity controls and responsible management must guide the industry’s growth.
He described the salmon industry as a national economic priority that will require public-private partnerships, clear regulation, research investment and skills development.
