The Horse Mackerel Association has dismissed claims that its members are intentionally catching pilchards, a species currently under a government fishing ban.

Responding to mounting allegations, association chairperson Johanna Shiweda stated that pilchard by-catch holds no economic value and that catching it results in financial losses for companies. She emphasized that all by-catch must be reported to fisheries observers on board, in line with strict regulations.

However, the Wet Landed Small Pelagic Association has pushed back. Chairperson Johnny Doeseb said the Fisheries Observer Agency had confirmed and reported illegal by-catch incidents to the Ministry of Fisheries. He cited a recent case where roughly N$20 million worth of protected species were landed, challenging the claim that there’s no profit motive behind the practice.

Doeseb argued that while observers are present, this doesn’t guarantee compliance, as there are documented cases of vessels flouting the rules.

A December report by Acting Director of Policy, Planning and Economics at the ministry, Ndesheetelwa Shitenga, raised red flags over rising by-catch volumes. It questioned whether some of the catches were indeed accidental, noting that vessels are only allowed 5% of their total catch as by-catch.

In the horse mackerel sector alone, out of 37,400 metric tonnes caught, 16,000 were horse mackerel, 12,800 were hake, and 12,600 were pilchards.

Five vessels recorded the highest pilchard by-catch:

Komesho – 7,000 metric tonnes

Katanga – just over 1,200

Tutungeni – just under 1,200

Carapau 1 – 711

Mediva Star – 682

The Wet Landed Small Pelagic Association is now calling on the government to act—by imposing stricter penalties, confiscating illegally landed pilchards, and diverting them to canneries to support drought relief efforts.

Doeseb added that over 1,000 Namibians remain unemployed due to the collapse of local pilchard canneries, a crisis partly linked to unlawful practices in the fishing industry.