If you’re not prepared to fish, don’t apply: Esau

WALVIS BAY, 26 JUL– It is no longer business as usual and aspiring fishing rights holders should be prepared to fish and not to acquire the rights just to sell them off, or they should not bother applying.
This is according to Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernhard Esau, when he spoke at the launch of Etosha Fishing’s new Efuta Maasbanker product range at Walvis Bay on Wednesday.
“A situation cannot continue where individuals apply for fishing rights as getting rich schemes. You cannot be a shebeen owner, apply for fishing rights and after getting the right, sell it off. That is not empowerment,” he said.
He said in the fishing industry, they mean business in their quest to develop the country.
“I would like to remind all that a fishing right is a right to go fishing, to go into the ocean and do fishing,” he said, adding that in terms of the country’s laws, fishing rights should not be sold.
Esau also urged prospective fishing right holders, both new and those seeking renewal to become more inclusive.
“Incorporate broad-based entities which benefit our economically vulnerable people in your shareholding structures,” Esau pleaded.
The minister said the future of Namibia’s fishing industry belongs to those intent to invest, create jobs and add value in the sector.
“After 28 years of independence, our fishing industry must transform and be truly inclusive.”
Esau further challenged fishing companies to look beyond Namibia when applying for fishing rights and take advantage of the efforts by the ministry in negotiating for international quotas.
“We have harvested in international waters beyond the Namibia Exclusive Economic Zone and I urge the private sector to look into this,” he said.
This week, the minister aired his worry to the media over calls by some people to allocate fishing quotas to regional bodies, maintaining that the current system is working.
Esau also said the PTY Ltd requirement has been “relaxed and not repealed; CCs and other legal entities are now allowed to apply for fishing rights”.
The deadline for submitting fishing rights applications was extended from 31 July to 31 August 2018.
(NAMPA)