By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
Regulators in the fishing industry have observed intentional pilchard bycatch affecting the recovery of the stock species.
This was revealed in Parliament by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reforms and Fisheries, Inge Zaamwani, on the outcome of the survey they conducted in response to illegal fishing.
“The observable increase in pilchard landings offers reasonable grounds to suggest that this bycatch may not always be unintentional, but rather a deliberate act,” she said.
She said this directly impacts the recovery efforts for the pilchard species, “and we have communicated this to the fishing industry.”
Current pilchard stock is estimated at 850,000 metric tonnes, still below the 1-million-metric-ton target, which is a scientifically sustainable spawner biomass target, a recent survey by the government revealed.
Spawner biomass is the total weight of sexually mature fish in a population that are capable of reproduction- a key indicator of a fish stock’s reproductive potential, which indicates the stock’s ability to replenish.
Zaamwani stated that once on-board observers note an increased volume of pilchard bycatch, they direct vessels to relocate to alternative fishing grounds, which has been complied with.
However, despite the Ministry’s efforts, a notable number of vessels catching pilchard persists across various areas, “which underscores the complexities of bycatch management,” she noted.
She revealed that even though their recent surveys show a positive recovery trend in pilchard biomass, they are still below the needed level.
Zaamwani also indicated that the pilchard fish is a relatively short-lived species, and their population is highly susceptible to environmental factors that can lead to significant mortality.
Thus, “ensuring that the stock reaches biologically sustainable levels is crucial to buffer against these natural fluctuations and ensure the long-term health of the species,” she noted.
Zaamwani indicated that her Ministry acknowledges concerns raised regarding pilchard bycatch and has formerly engaged the fishing industry to express its concern regarding the increasing volume of pilchard bycatch.
She said the enforcement measures that are currently employed are not yielding the expected results.
“It is reasonable to state that current enforcement measures and associated penalties are proving insufficient to deter illegal fishing of pilchard,” Zaamwani reported.
Adding that the Ministry is actively exploring a range of measures to enhance compliance within our fisheries subsector.
These include, but are not limited to, revision of the current moratorium, implementing stricter bycatch limits, revising the landed value of species to deter pilchard bycatch, and deploying more advanced monitoring and surveillance systems.
Moreover, the Ministry will do a revision of the current penalty regime to introduce tougher penalties for non-compliance.
The Ministry also plans to consult internally with their scientist with a view to conduct a targeted pilchard stock assessment to determine the biomass.
She said the interventions are designed to ensure that bycatch regulations are respected and that the recovery of Namibia’s pilchard stock is not compromised.
To date, fish is the only non-mineral product in Namibia’s top 5 exports and one of the main foreign currency earners.
Moreover, it is also one of the few products that Namibia exports into Africa, mostly to Zambia, DRC, and South Africa.
