Allexer Namundjembo
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) says Walu Fishing Company (Pty) Ltd has no legal right to any fishing quota.
On Monday, the ministry issued a statement responding to claims made in a social media video.
It clarified that the company does not hold fishing rights under the Marine Resources Act and is therefore not legally entitled to receive any fishing quota.
The ministry explained that Walu Fishing only participated in the Government Employment Redress Programme during the 2024 and 2025 fishing seasons under a special arrangement aimed at protecting jobs in the horse mackerel sector.
During the 2024 season, the company’s operations were disrupted after workers protested over unpaid salaries for more than three months.
The ministry stated that the government intervened and extended the additional quota to ensure the payment of workers’ salaries.
For the 2025 season, Walu Fishing was again allocated a full quota linked to the employment of 225 workers.
However, the ministry said the company stopped paying workers from October.
“This constituted a clear breach of the agreement,” the ministry said, adding that the government cancelled the contract and “is currently pursuing measures to recover the value of the quota granted to the company.”
The ministry confirmed that there is no agreement with Walu Fishing for the 2026 fishing season.
“For the current 2026 fishing season, the Ministry has no agreement with Walu Fishing (Pty) Ltd. The company is not eligible for any quota allocation, and any suggestion to the contrary is false,” it said.
The ministry also said it is concerned that the company has reportedly been advertising job opportunities despite having no quota, no fishing rights and no active agreement with the government.
It added that some individuals are allegedly being kept at home without pay while the company continues to advertise employment.
The ministry said it remains accountable and open to scrutiny.
“Decisions regarding the total allowable catch and quota allocations are guided by scientific advice, the Marine Resources Act, and cabinet decisions, not pressure, threats, or misinformation,” it said.
The ministry also said it would not undermine the sustainability of Namibia’s marine resources or the rights of companies that lawfully hold fishing rights.
The Government Employment Redress Programme was introduced by Cabinet to address unemployment among fishermen affected by retrenchments and labour disputes in the fishing sector.
Under the programme, quotas are allocated through special arrangements on the condition that companies employ affected workers, mainly in the hake and horse mackerel sectors.
