The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen, says the government will undertake a study to review the variation of fishing rights.
Speaking at an Annual Fisheries Industry Address at Walvis Bay on Thursday, Klazen said the exercise, which will be conducted during the 2024/25 financial year, is being done to ensure compliance, fairness, and equity among right holders when varying the duration of their fishing rights.
“It (the study) allows the Ministry to assess if right holders adhere to the set variation criteria and implement applicable measures, which will inform the continuation or termination of such fishing rights. I therefore call upon all right holders to fully participate when the Ministry undertakes this vital exercise,” he said.
Klazen added that the Ministry will continue to promote the optimal distribution of fishing quotas.
“The pro-rata quota allocation mechanism seeks to provide efficient and equitable quota allocation for the development of the fishing sector.
“I want to highlight that accessibility to fish quotas creates economic means to draw socioeconomic gains,” said Klazen.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of the process for the allocation of fishing quotas being transparent, equitable, and sustainable.
“To ensure this, the Ministry commenced the process for a comprehensive quota allocation mechanism (scorecard) in 2015, where the fishing sector and relevant stakeholders were consulted,” he said.
“We acknowledge that the process has taken too long to be finalised due to its complexities, however, I am pleased to announce that the Ministry has prioritised the completion of the scorecard in the current financial year.
“There will be another industry consultation on the scorecard finalisation, considering the expansion in operations and socio-economic dynamics of the fishing sector,” he added.
During the address, fishing rights holders who caught fish beyond their allocated quotas were cautioned, with the Minister saying that it would jeopardise future allocation.
“The Ministry has noted with concern that specific right holders are continuously catching beyond their allocated quotas. Right holders are cautioned that the Ministry is observing, and this will have a negative impact on future allocations,” Klazen said.
“Also, right holders should note that their allocation will be reduced by a percentage equivalent to their over-harvest of the previous fishing season.”
Additionally, Klazen cautioned fishing companies not to practise by-catching or overfishing, saying measures to monitor these activities will be tightened.
“The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has observed a worrisome trend of by-catches in the fishing industry, specifically hake, mackerel, and pilchard in the horse mackerel sub-sector,” Klazen said.
The annual Fisheries Address is held every year to brief all industry players, including unions, fishing companies, fishing rights holders, and other stakeholders, on the latest developments and updates regarding fisheries by the custodian, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
