Welcome   Sponsored By
Subscribe | Register | Advertise | Newsletter | About us | Contact us
   


MINISTER of fisheries and marine resources Albert Kawana (Photo: The Namibian)

The pilchard sardine crisis continues to affect government decisions

Click on the flag for more information about Namibia NAMIBIA
Tuesday, June 30, 2020, 07:40 (GMT + 9)

MINISTER of fisheries and marine resources Albert Kawana instructed scientists to assess the country's pilchard stock to determine whether the species, which is close to extinction, can be harvested.

The government banned pilchard fishing in 2017 for three years to aid its recovery.

This came came after former fisheries minister Bernhard Esau reportedly downplayed scientific research showing that pilchard reserves had been overfished for several years, and that it may not recover again – even if a five-year ban was to be implemented.

The pilchard ban expires at the end of this year. 

Kawana yesterday said the directive to conduct the assessment is to ensure pilchard and sardine stocks have recovered sufficiently before the ban is lifted.

“The state is obliged to sustainably utilise the resources. So, if the scientists say the stock is still critically low, then we will not issue any quotas or rights. But if they say there is improvement and that the resources are commercially exploitable, we will start issuing quotas,” he said.

Kawana said he expects to get a report on the assessment early next year.

Pilchards are one of the most lucratively fished species in the industry, generating big profits for those Esau and other former fisheries ministers allocated quotas to. 

The Namibian reported in 2017 that Esau went for broke that year to issue pilchard harvesting licences despite warnings from scientists. 

Esau claimed at the time The Namibian had an agenda against him and that he was trying to save jobs.

“That article was subjective. You editorialised the story. It was a sensational story,” Esau said.

Cabinet announced the ban on pilchard fishing 10 months later.

“They recommended that for the next three years, there would be no harvesting of this particular species, to ensure that we manage our resources based on scientific evidence to allow the fish to recover,” former information minister Tjekero Tweya said.

The pilchard industry has for years lobbied for more quotas – despite the species being endangered. 

Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani yesterday said Namibia should seek advice from marine scientists regarding the sustainability of the species.

“We cannot short-change future generations by depleting pilchards, and try to cover up their [leaders'] greed by hiding behind their three-year recoverability of pilchards,” he said.

Landless People's Movement parliamentarian Henny Seibeb told The Namibian yesterday conservation should triumph over short gains.

“In the context of preservation and conservation, the principle must hold that we allow this particular fish stock to grow in a sustainable way. I think a five- to ten-year moratorium could be allowed for sustainable development,” he said.

“We shouldn't finish all our resources at once to satisfy the appetite of greedy rent-seeking politicians,” Seibeb said.

Fisheries experts three years ago said the sardine stock size was estimated at virtually zero level, and the natural mortality was considered to be very high. 

Authors: Sakeus IIKela and Shinovene Immanuel / The Namibian | Read full story here

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media


 Print


Click to know how to advertise in FIS
MORE NEWS
Norway
Jul 2, 06:00 (GMT + 9):
Revolutionary Norwegian Project Transforms Industrial CO₂ Emissions into Sustainable Salmon Feed
Ghana
Jul 2, 05:00 (GMT + 9):
Ghana's Aquaculture Set for Sustainable Boost as ASC and Chamber of Aquaculture Forge Strategic Partnership
Viet Nam
Jul 2, 04:00 (GMT + 9):
Vietnam's Seafood Sector Navigates Global Headwinds to Meet Ambitious Export Targets
Spain
Jul 2, 02:00 (GMT + 9):
Cepesca Takes Spanish Fishing Demands to Brussels in Historic Meeting
Norway
Jul 2, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Norwegian Seafood Consumption Sees Significant Decline Over Past Decade Amidst Soaring Prices
Russian Federation
Jul 2, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Russia's Far East Salmon Season Surges: Pink Salmon Run Prompts Major Forecast Adjustment
Worldwide
Jul 1, 06:00 (GMT + 9):
World Bank Report: Sustainable Aquaculture Poised to Generate 22 Million Jobs and Trillions in Investment by 2050
Spain
Jul 1, 06:00 (GMT + 9):
Not a Mussel in Cobre San Rafael's Hands: Opmega Stops Unloading at Vilaxoán Port Due to Environmental Ethics
Norway
Jul 1, 03:00 (GMT + 9):
Norway Pelagic Fishing Update Week 25
Argentina
Jul 1, 01:00 (GMT + 9):
Argentina's Shrimp Industry Faces Unprecedented Crisis, Billions in Losses Amid Labor Dispute
Russian Federation
Jul 1, 00:30 (GMT + 9):
IN BRIEF - Record Sales as Russia's 'O!Mega Taste Pollock Festival' Concludes
Republic of Ireland
Jul 1, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Irish Fishing Industry Faces Staggering €800 Million Loss Under New EU-UK Brexit Deal
Brazil
Jul 1, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
AQUISHOW 2025: Health Course Unites Latin American Tilapia Leaders, Forging Sustainable Future
China
Jul 1, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Insect Protein Boosts Shrimp Surimi: New Research Unlocks Enhanced Texture and Nutrition with Bee Pupa Powder
Spain
Jul 1, 00:00 (GMT + 9):
Other Media | La Voz de Galicia: Anfaco Changes Its Surname



Lenguaje
FEATURED EVENTS
  
TOP STORIES
New Mississippi Seafood Labeling Law to Require Restaurants to Distinguish Domestic and Imported Products
United States Measure, Effective July 1, Aims to Inform Consumers and Promote Local Production, Despite Concerns Over Potential Shortages. BILOXI, Mississippi –  Starting July 1, a new seafood...
Fisherman's Day: Beyond the Ritual
Peru Every June 29th, as tomorrow, Peru fervently celebrates Saint Peter's Day and —in honor of his profession— Fisherman's Day. This deeply symbolic date combines religious devotion to the apo...
Vietnam's Tuna Exports Rebound in May 2025 Amid Global Trade Shifts
Viet Nam Producers Navigate US Tax Concerns and Middle East Instability by Diversifying Markets. HANOI – After facing headwinds in early 2025, Vietnam's tuna exports saw a significant recovery in May, r...
Anchovy-Dominated Diets Threaten West Coast Salmon, Study Reveals Fatal Vitamin Deficiency
United States New Research Links Ocean Shifts to Thiamine Deficiency, Killing Half of Endangered Chinook Fry and Deepening Salmon Crisis. SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A widespread vitamin deficiency, triggered by an ...
 

Umios Corporation | Maruha Nichiro Corporation
Nichirei Corporation - Headquarters
Pesquera El Golfo S.A.
Ventisqueros - Productos del Mar Ventisqueros S.A
Wärtsilä Corporation - Wartsila Group Headquarters
ITOCHU Corporation - Headquarters
BAADER - Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH+Co.KG (Head Office)
Inmarsat plc - Global Headquarters
Marks & Spencer
Tesco PLC (Supermarket) - Headquarters
Sea Harvest Corporation (PTY) Ltd. - Group Headquarters
I&J - Irvin & Johnson Holding Company (Pty) Ltd.
AquaChile S.A. - Group Headquarters
Pesquera San Jose S.A.
Nutreco N.V. - Head Office
CNFC China National Fisheries Corporation - Group Headquarters
W. van der Zwan & Zn. B.V.
SMMI - Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Co., Ltd. - Headquarters
Icicle Seafoods, Inc
Starkist Seafood Co. - Headquearters
Trident Seafoods Corp.
American Seafoods Group LLC - Head Office
Marel - Group Headquarters
SalMar ASA - Group Headquarters
Sajo Industries Co., Ltd
Hansung Enterprise Co.,Ltd.
BIM - Irish Sea Fisheries Board (An Bord Iascaigh Mhara)
CEFAS - Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
COPEINCA ASA - Corporacion Pesquera Inca S.A.C.
Chun Cheng Fishery Enterprise Pte Ltd.
VASEP - Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters & Producers
Gomes da Costa
Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. (Headquarters)
NISSUI - Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. - Group Headquarters
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization - Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (Headquarter)
Hagoromo Foods Co., Ltd.
Koden Electronics Co., Ltd. (Headquarters)
A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S - Headquarters
BVQI - Bureau Veritas Quality International (Head Office)
UPS - United Parcel Service, Inc. - Headquarters
Brim ehf (formerly HB Grandi Ltd) - Headquarters
Hamburg Süd Group - (Headquearters)
Armadora Pereira S.A. - Grupo Pereira Headquarters
Costa Meeresspezialitäten GmbH & Co. KG
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Headquarters)
Mowi ASA (formerly Marine Harvest ASA) - Headquarters
Marubeni Europe Plc -UK-
Findus Ltd
Icom Inc. (Headquarter)
WWF Centroamerica
Oceana Group Limited
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. - Headquarters
Friosur S.A. - Headquarters
Cargill, Incorporated - Global Headquarters
Benihana Inc.
Leardini Pescados Ltda
CJ Corporation  - Group Headquarters
Greenpeace International - The Netherlands | Headquarters
David Suzuki Foundation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada -Communications Branch-
Mitsui & Co.,Ltd - Headquarters
NOREBO Group (former Ocean Trawlers Group)
Natori Co., Ltd.
Carrefour Supermarket - Headquarters
FedEx Corporation - Headquarters
Cooke Aquaculture Inc. - Group Headquarters
AKBM - Aker BioMarine ASA
Seafood Choices Alliance -Headquarter-
Austevoll Seafood ASA
Walmart | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Supermarket) - Headquarters
New Japan Radio Co.Ltd (JRC) -Head Office-
Gulfstream JSC
Marine Stewardship Council - MSC Worldwide Headquarters
Royal Dutch Shell plc (Headquarter)
Genki Sushi Co.,Ltd -Headquarter-
Iceland Pelagic ehf
AXA Assistance Argentina S.A.
Caterpillar Inc. - Headquarters
Tiger Brands Limited
SeaChoice
National Geographic Society
AmazonFresh, LLC - AmazonFresh

Copyright 1995 - 2025 Seafood Media Group Ltd.| All Rights Reserved.   DISCLAIMER