The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) has launched the Seals Sub-Sector Technical Committee (SSTC), a new body tasked with advancing the sustainable and ethical management of Namibia’s seal industry.
According to the ministry, the committee has been given a three-year mandate to develop and implement strategies aimed at strengthening sustainable resource use, improving processing and increasing value addition across the seal value chain.
MAFWLR Executive Director Teofilus Nghitila said the committee is intended to strengthen cooperation among government institutions and industry players to ensure responsible use of Namibia’s marine resources.
He said the SSTC brings together specialists, regulators and operators to support sustainable harvesting practices and broaden economic opportunities in the sector.
The ministry said the SSTC will coordinate activities related to seal management, trade facilitation and market development.
Its responsibilities include reviewing the Seals Management Plan, implementing population management strategies, assessing the impact of possible CITES listings on trade and promoting innovation and awareness in harvesting and processing.
The committee will also work to expand domestic, regional and international markets for seal products. According to the ministry, these efforts include preparing a pocket guide on harvesting and market access procedures, improving cooperation among stakeholders and strengthening training and capacity-building programmes.
Chaired by the agriculture ministry, the committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism; the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development; the Ministry of Health and Social Services; the Development Bank of Namibia; the Bank of Namibia; NamRA; NIPDB; the Namibia Trade Forum; the Namibia Standards Institution; and the Fisheries Observers Agency, as well as seal rights holders and operators.
