Empowering local fishermen

Members pay a monthly membership fee of N$10 while other anglers pay N$14 per months for recreational fishing permits. The ministry of fisheries and marine resources, and partners such as the municipality of Henties Bay, established the association in 2008 to develop and support traditional fishing in Namibia The association aims to encourage unemployed youth, women and pensioners to make a living by catching fish and selling it to the association, which owns a fish shop. Herman Honeb, the director of the association, encouraged everyone from Lüderitz, Walvis Bay, Terrace Bay and Swakopmund to register and take advantage of this opportunity “The idea is to encourage anglers outside Henties Bay to organise themselves into a mini association under HAFA, after which a HAFA branch could be opened in their area where they can sell their catches.” The fish shop currently employees 13 people, and has plans to branch out to Khorixas, Windhoek and northern Namibia. Profits at the fish shop increased from N$40 000 in March 2018 to N$142 000 in December. Honeb said future business operations include aggressive marketing and diversification of products, such as cleaning fish for clients, smoking fish and filleting. “Expansion plans include the construction of a restaurant and guest accommodation. We also want to branch out into aquaculture and fish/ mussel farming. In addition, we’ve signed a memorandum of understanding with the Benguella Ski Boat Association for the use of a ski boat, where both entities benefit from the commercial license.” The ski boat was revamped at a cost of N$100 000 and 11 fishermen and 1 skipper are manning HAFA No.1. The total income from the ski boat landings from November to January were N$454 795. Benguella and HAFA are also in the process of developing training modules and schedules for members to be trained to operate the ski boat. The joint venture between HAFA and Benguella will gradually venture into HAFA taking over the full operation of the boat. The monthly payments to the fishermen ranged from N$20 000 for galjoen, black tail and steenbras. Amounts of N$170 000 and N$180 000 were paid out to the fishermen for kob in December 2018 and January 2019. During these two months, a total of 4 800 kg and 5 200 kg of kob were landed by the fishermen. Snoek landings were about 19 031 kg (19 tons) from 16 November 2018 to 23 December 2018. The total snoek landed since HAFA 1 started operating amounted to 34 661.80 kg (34.6 tons). No kob or black tail were landed for the same period. The amount of kob landed from 28 January to 10 February 2019 was 3 307.10kg (3.3 tons). Black tail landings from 28 January to 10 February 2019 were 28.10 kg. According to Honeb anglers usually do not catch large quantities of fish and if it happens that overfishing becomes a problem, measures will be taken to protect the stock. - Additional reporting NAMPA

Empowering local fishermen

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Republikein 2026-03-20

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Empowering local fishermen

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