Namibia’s 1,500-km coastline is recognised as one of the world’s richest fishing grounds. The commercial biomass consists primarily of small pelagic species (pilchard, anchovy and juvenile mackerel) and lobster along the shallower inshore waters on the continental shelf, as well as large pelagic species including adult mackerel, demersal hake and other deep-sea species (monkfish, sole, and crab) in the waters further offshore.

Mid and deep-water trawling for hake, horse-mackerel, monk and sole account for over three-quarters of the country’s weighted fish output. This is followed by purse-seining for pilchard, anchovy and juvenile horse-mackerel, ring and bow net harvesting of inshore lobster and deep-sea crab, and line fishing for tuna, cob and snoek.

Namibia’s estimated national fish reserves are the biggest in Southern Africa and it increased the Southern Africa Development Community ( SADC’s) fisheries output from 600,000 tons to 1.3 million tons when it joined the grouping after independence in 1990. It is the top African fisheries country by production value and exports.

In terms of its 400 kilogramme per capita annual production (which is set to double in ten years), Namibia ranks second in the world. Over 90 per cent of this national output is marketed for export. Mariculture is a growing sub-sector in Namibia’s fisheries, with three oyster farms and one seaweed harvesting enterprise already well established.

Horse mackerel

Investment potential exists in the processing and export of horse mackerel. The resource has a potential annual yield of over half a million tons. It is presently under-utilised.

Value adding

Other investment opportunities exist in the further processing (adding value) of fish, particularly hake, caught in or outside Namibian waters into frozen fish cuts, fish cakes, fish fingers and ready-made fish meals.

Ancillary and support industries

Further investment opportunities exist in activities such as net making, vessel maintenance, supply of processing equipment, the production of packaging material and the provision of professional services to the industry.