As I alluded to earlier, this Ministry has been entrusted to lead the sector of Fisheries and Marine Resources. In this regard, allow me to elaborate on the Main Division: Water and Fisheries Law Enforcement.
It remains the mandate of the Ministry to safeguard and protect the nation’s natural resources by ensuring compliance with the legal framework governing the use of water, marine and inland water bodies.
During 2024/2025 Financial Year, despite various challenges and constraints the following activities were carried out through the then, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources:
Successfully conducted over 2,000 patrols and inspections along-and-on sea and rivers/waterbodies within the national jurisdiction.
A total of 679 fines amounting to N$ 365,790 and 22 criminal cases were opened at various police stations across the country.
This effort equates to a measure of about 70 percent efficiency in executing the mandate of reducing Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to 10 percent of expected transgressions. Complementary joint efforts with other national O/M/As (e.g. Namibian Navy and the Namibian Police), private and regional partners contributed to this achievement.
These collaborative efforts will continue during the 2025/2026 Financial Year to retain the reputation of our Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) programme.
In terms of fisheries administration, during the 2024/2025 Financial Year, the fisheries sector generated approximately N$300 million in revenue for the government. This revenue was derived from quota levies and license fees which are all collected in accordance with Section 44 of the Marine Resources Act (Act No. 27 of 2000). This marks a significant increase from the N$264 million collected in 2023/2024 Financial Year.
This positive trend in revenue generation underscores the growing efficiency and productivity of the fisheries sector, as well as the successful implementation of policies that promote sustainability and economic growth. These fees are essential for the sustainable management of our marine resources, as they ensure that fishing activities are conducted within the framework of established quotas aimed at maintaining fish stocks and promoting environmental sustainability.
In addition to the state revenue fund, levies imposed on the fishing industry were collected and channelled into the Marine Resources Fund. This fund is specifically dedicated to support crucial activities related to fisheries research, training, education and development.
Investing in research allows for ongoing monitoring and assessment of fish stocks, providing data that informs sustainable fishing practices and helps to ensure the long-term viability of marine resources. Furthermore, training initiatives contribute to the development of workforce skills within the sector, empowering individuals and fostering a culture of responsible and sustainable fishing.
In order for the Ministry to continue contributing to the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) 13, 14, and 15, and to our 6th National Development Plan, an amount of N$99,786,000) has been allocated to this main division during the 2025/2026 Financial Year to carry out this major activity: the ministry will undertake 3,076 surveillance patrols along-and-on sea and rivers/waterbodies within the national jurisdiction.
The objective is to reduce incidences of IUU fishing by 10 percent relative to recent recordings while ensuring that patrol craft are available for at least 80 percent of the scheduled operations.
-This excerpt has derived from the entire budget motivation speech, Vote 38 which was delivered in parliament on 8 May 2025