Walvis bay: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday acknowledged that the country's fishing industry is no longer what it used to be and requires urgent, practical interventions to restore jobs, protect livelihoods, and secure the sustainability of marine resources. The president made these remarks during the opening of a long-awaited three-day fishing industry engagement at Walvis Bay, where she plans to engage with fishing company executives, workers' unions, employer federations, and regional leaders.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the president emphasized that the fishing industry remains a key and priority sector of the economy, describing it as a strategic national asset that should be sustainably managed and developed for the benefit of all Namibians. She highlighted the industry's significant contributions to employment, skills development, foreign exchange earnings, food security, and nutrition, while also acknowledging the serious challenges it has faced over the years.

'We recognise that the industry is not what it used to be. Over the years, changes have taken place, some necessary, others difficult, affecting jobs, livelihoods, and the daily realities of many Namibians,' she said. The president reiterated that the eighth administration has prioritized the fishing industry under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which aligns with the Swapo Party Election Manifesto 2025-2030 and Vision 2030.

'We are not here to play a blame game. We have come to listen with an open mind to those who experience the realities of this industry every day and develop responsive solutions,' she stated. Nandi-Ndaitwah urged participants to speak honestly about what is working and where improvements are needed, while also focusing on concerns around dwindling fish stocks and long-term sustainability.

As part of the program, the president and her delegation will visit the Vessel Monitoring System Centre, the research vessel Mirabilis, and fishing factories to observe operations firsthand. The fishing industry has faced concerns over quota allocation disputes, allegations of unfair access to fishing rights, labour grievances, declining fish stocks, and the lingering effects of the Fishrot corruption scandal, which exposed widespread abuse in the allocation of fishing quotas and severely dented public trust in the sector.

Workers in Walvis Bay and Lderitz have also repeatedly raised concerns over job losses, casualisation of labour, and delayed transformation in ensuring greater local participation and benefits from Namibia's marine resources.