Staff Reporter
Look to the science before making decisions – that was the message several stakeholders in Namibia’s fisheries industry delivered to the Fisheries Ministry recently.
Dr Stanley Ndara, Chief Executive Officer of Namibia’s Fisheries Observer Agency, was among those who made this call, urging the Fisheries Ministry to consider the data and evidence presented by scientists when determining the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Namibian fish.
“Honourable minister, stick to the scientific advice that you get from the scientists. If not, Hardin’s concept of the tragedy of the commons will befall Namibia, and that will be the decimation of our beautiful, precious marine resources that we need to sustain for current and future generations,” Ndara said.
He made these remarks at the Fisheries Indaba, which took place in Walvis Bay. The event brought various stakeholders in the fisheries sector together to discuss developments in the sector.
Ndara’s remarks followed a presentation by Johannes Iitembu, Associate Professor of Fisheries Science at the University of Namibia, which highlighted several challenges facing Namibia’s fisheries industry.
He identified the fact that several key fish stocks remain below their biomass targets as one of the sector’s main challenges, with rebuilding efforts falling behind schedule. Despite this, he noted, TAC determinations continue to exceed scientific recommendations.
“A number of our key stocks are below the biomass targets, and also rebuilding objectives for some of our stock is behind schedule. There’s also observations that there are deviations between what the scientists are recommending, and there are no published basis on why that deviation is done. There’s also absence of reference points in our management approach,” Iitembu said.
Matti Amukwa, Chairperson of the Confederation of the Namibian Fishing Associations, also noted that, while the industry works with scientists, their scientific findings are not necessarily fully considered when the TAC is determined.
“The scientists, although they are the ones proposing the TAC, they are not the ones having the final say in that TAC, and that’s quite a bit challenging for the industry in terms of predictability and in order for us to prepare,” Amukwa said.
He highlighted that the final decision typically considers socio-economic conditions above sustainability.
This particular concern was also highlighted by Dr Hilkka Ndjaula, Campus Director at UNAM’s Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (SANUMARC).
She encouraged the Ministry to prioritise scientific data when making decisions, arguing that this would be in the best interests of long-term sustainability.
“It’s science that will allow us to present evidence of where we are, where we were, where we want to go, and the sustainability that comes with it. I hope this Indaba will allow us to get back to what are our management triggers. What are the thresholds that we need to monitor so that when we reach tipping points, we have that evidence and we also have the advice from the science that we are able to stick to. At times, we do have those reference points, they are scientific, but our management triggers or our decisions are looking at different triggers. If the TAC needs to be this much, they reallocate it at a different platform depending on the jobs that might be lost. Yes, we are doing fisheries, and we are managing fisheries for the livelihoods, but when there is a mismatch between the reasons for managing, we might lose track,” she said.
Photo: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water & Land Reform
