06 dec namib times e-edition

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namib times SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6828 FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER 2019 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net

Disaster looming Industry says 330 000mt TAC for 2020 not sustainable as fish biomass not in good shape

Headmaster inside S.R.A. arrested for Newstheft of cash letter

Floris Steenkamp Namibia's horse mackerel fishing sector has divided opinions over the 330 000 metric tons horse mackerel TAC (total allowable catch) announced this week by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources for the 2020 (1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020) fishing season. The main source of contention is the current Still on the matter of the TAC, there were state of the horse mackerel biomass in stakeholders who called on the Acting Minister Namibia's exclusive economic zone. The Albert Kawana to look deeper and realise the rot scientific survey carried out this year, to in the horse mackerel sector is deeper than just determine the 2020 TAC, shows there is an the Fishrot saga. estimated 846 000 metric tons of horse “It cuts deeper than just a corrupt plot where mackerel biomass in Namibian waters. people in power receive bribes to dish out Apart from 2007 when the biomass stood at Namibian horse mackerel quotas to a foreign 500 000 metric tons, this is smallest biomasses company. The current situation is Namibian ever recorded during scientific surveys for the companies have gone to great lengths to invest in horse mackerel season. seagoing vessels and land based processing The former headmaster of the Vrede Rede Primary The 2019 TAC of 349 000 metric tons was facilities. It is Namibian fishing companies who School in Swakopmund’s Mondesa suburb made a based on a total horse mackerel biomass of 1, 6 are the real employers in the fishing industry”, first appearance in the Swakopmund magistrate’s million metric tons. It is exactly at this juncture explained one stakeholder. court on Monday on a count of theft. where the midwater trawl sector (horse Adding there are too many “foreign assets” in the Lizette Hedwig Fisher-Lucas (39) was arrested by mackerel) has divided opinions. horse mackerel fishery in the form of foreign the Anti Corruption Commission of Namibia A segment of the fishery is of opinion the 330 registered vessels. Quota holders sell their horse following an investigation which pointed to her in the disappearance of N$17 366-00 in cash at the 000 metric tons TAC is realistic, despite an mackerel quotas to these foreign vessels, at the school. The investigation uncovered Fisher-Lucas indication the horse mackerel biomass is under expense of Namibian-owned vessels, Namibian allegedly misappropriated the money and used it pressure. The other camp leans towards having investments and Namibian employment. for herself. the either the TAC reduced or for the Acting “If Acting Minister Kawana wants to improve Minister of Fisheries, Albert Kawana, to divide the conditions of investment and employment in Fisher-Lucas paid bail of N$1000 and the case was remanded to 20 January 2020. the 330 000 TAC into a main TAC and a reserve Continues on page 2 TAC. “This is not a new in the fishing industry. The Minister has the powers to divide any TAC into a main TAC and keep a portion in reserve. Once the main TAC has been caught, and there Selling of land to developers for cheap is scientific data that says the fish biomass is directly linked to budget shortfalls still healthy, the Minister can issue the remainder of this TAC”, one stakeholder A report was debated in the Walvis Bay Town Council on Tuesday night which confirms explained. what the town's ratepayers already know for many years: the huge swaths of un-serviced Other stakeholders spoken to said they are land and un-surveyed land sold to developers at cheap prices have not only depraved the concerned over the fact that the fish biomass municipality of substantial profits but now also leaves the town with a shortage of land for appears to have shrunk by approximately 50 % the town's further development. No further sale of un-develope or un-surveyed land will in one fishing year, yet the TAC for 2020 is a therefore be allowed for the foreseeable future. mere 29 000 metric tons less than last year. Continues on page 2

Walvis Bay’s land gravy train to a halt

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No fuel price increase Page 5

Locker vom Hocker

Pages 8

Novanam/ Pescanova Monthly Medal

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Fruit & Veg City Walvis Bay now OPEN every Sunday from 08:00 - 13:00


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06 dec namib times e-edition by Namib Times Virtual - Issuu