The founding members of the newly formed Namibia Ocean Cluster have committed to minimising waste and fully exploiting the socio-economic benefits of fish harvested in Namibia.

This commitment was formalised at a public event in Walvis Bay today, where the six founding members and the three association founding members of the ocean cluster signed the document, committing them to use fisheries resources more effectively.

The founding members are certified hake fishing companies: Embwinda, Hangana, Merlus, Novanam, Pereira, and Seawork.

The non-fishing Associate Founding Members are the Fisheries Observers Agency, the Namibia Nature Foundation, and the Henties Bay-based Sam Nujoma Campus of the University of Namibia.

Wednesday's signing ceremony is in preparation of the Namibia Ocean Cluster becoming legally registered as a non-profit organisation in early February 2024.

The Namibia Ocean Cluster, supported by the World Economic Forum’s Ocean Action Agenda, has been created to bring together the seafood sector and allied stakeholders with the mission of maximising the use of all seafood harvested.

The cluster’s goal is to promote innovation, research, and markets for fisheries by-products while enhancing socio-economic benefits.

This collaborative forum is the latest national chapter in a global movement for ‘100% fish’ to cut seafood loss and waste, initiated in Iceland and also including Alaska, New England, and Denmark.