Walvis bay: Employees of Princess Brand Processing (PBP) have petitioned the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, calling for urgent intervention to safeguard 634 jobs at risk in the wet-landed pelagic sector.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the employees delivered their petition on Thursday, appealing to the ministry to act swiftly to protect workers' livelihoods and investments in the sector affected by fishing quota shortages. "We are deeply concerned about the ongoing issue of fishing quota allocation, which has placed over 630 employees in a position of uncertainty," the workers stated in the petition, read by their shop steward, Silas Petrus. They urged the ministry to allocate quotas to the company to prevent economic hardship for employees and their dependants.
Princess Brand Processing, established in 2020, has been a major employer in the Walvis Bay horse mackerel industry. However, the current shortage of fishing quotas has halted production, threatening hundreds of jobs. The company extended its retrenchment deadline from 31 October to 15 November 2025 following consultations with the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) to explore alternatives.
Workers noted that between May and October 2025, the company had been conducting a government-authorised experimental fishing project within the 200-metre isobar, targeting the wet-landed small pelagic sector. The experiment, they said, demonstrated that sustainable catches could be achieved close to shore, supporting local processing and employment.
Among the workers' proposals is the creation of an Exclusive Fishing Zone (EFZ) for the wet-landed pelagic sector, the allocation of pilchard quotas to stimulate local processing, and the issuance of interim horse mackerel quotas to sustain operations while long-term solutions are pursued. "This is not a handout; we are requesting investment in our nation's social and economic stability," the petition read.
In a written response, PBP management acknowledged the workers' peaceful demonstration, describing the retrenchment decision as "deeply regrettable but unavoidable under the current circumstances." The company said it had operated under "seven years of uncertainty" and recently concluded a three-year experimental project that demonstrated the potential of the wet horse mackerel sector for job creation and sustainable fishing.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the ministry, Chief Control Fisheries Inspector at Walvis Bay, Malcolm Block assured the demonstrating employees that he would ensure the petition is delivered to the minister's office for attention.