🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Namibian government clarifies Etosha Fishing quota not linked to employee protest
via The Namibian3 min read
The Namibian fisheries ministry has stated that the recent allocation of horse mackerel quota to Etosha Fishing Corporation was not a reaction to employee demonstrations. The ministry explained that this allocation is part of ongoing government efforts to safeguard jobs and investments following the collapse of Namibia's commercial pilchard fishing industry. Since Etosha Fishing is not a rights holder in the horse mackerel fishery, such allocations require Cabinet approval. All processes for the current quota allocation were completed before the employee protest, with Cabinet approvals secured prior to the ministry receiving a petition from workers. Namibia's commercial pilchard fishery has been under a moratorium since 2018 to allow fish stocks to recover, meaning no active fishing rights exist in that subsector. While scientific assessments show significant improvements in pilchard resources, the ministry awaits further monitoring to determine when stocks have recovered sufficiently for reopening, guided by scientific recommendations and sustainability. The ministry reiterated its commitment to balancing resource conservation, employment protection, investment retention, and the broader socioeconomic interests of Namibians.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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