Staff Reporter
THE Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Ruthy Masake, has highlighted industrial salmon farming as a catalyst to expand Namibia’s industrial base and further develop the aquaculture sector into a high-value export industry.
“Industrial salmon farming will require engineers, marine biologists, environmental specialists, logistics experts, quality controllers, marketers, and entrepreneurs. This presents an opportunity to close unemployment gaps and build a new generation of skilled professionals. If structured inclusively, this industry can become a platform for economic empowerment and gender equity,” Masake said.
She made these remarks while speaking at a seminar in Windhoek, where she introduced a proposed Norwegian-Namibian venture centred on salmon farming. She added that industrial salmon farming can support multiple sectors, such as manufacturing, feed production, logistics, packaging, research, and technology development.
“Today, we stand at the threshold of a new frontier in salmon farming. Industrial salmon farming presents Namibia with an extraordinary opportunity to expand aquaculture into a high-value export industry. Globally, salmon is among the most traded and consumed fish species, commanding premium markets in Europe, Asia, and North America,” the Deputy Minister said.
Masake acknowledged that the country’s fisheries sector has contributed significantly to employment, export earnings, and improved food nutrition and security. However, she emphasised the need to shift from traditional harvest-based fishing towards the farming of high-value aquaculture species and the development of agro-processing industries.
“As climate change and overfishing place pressure on wild fish stocks, aquaculture is increasingly becoming the sustainable solution to global seafood demand. Industrial salmon farming allows controlled production, biosecurity management, and predictable output,” Masake said.
She explained that, for Namibia, this would mean less reliance on unpredictable wild catches and greater domestic protein production, thereby enhancing food and nutrition security and strengthening climate-resilient food systems.
“Sustainable salmon farming must, however, be rooted in responsible environmental management. We must ensure adherence to international standards on water quality, waste management, biodiversity protection, and energy efficiency,” Masake said.
According to her, by harnessing salmon farming as a strategic national value chain, Namibia can stimulate foreign direct investment, create skilled and semi-skilled employment, strengthen agro-processing and cold-chain infrastructure, increase export revenues, and become a pioneer in Africa’s aquaculture innovation.
“Namibia has the opportunity to build Africa’s first large-scale salmon farming industry based on green energy integration, environmental safeguards, and scientific research partnerships. If we get this right, we will not only produce salmon we will produce a model of sustainable blue economy development for the continent,” Masake added.
Photo: Namibian Agronomic Board
