During a cabinet briefing on Monday, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources explained that the ministry's mandate is to sustainably manage aquatic resources and promote the aquaculture sector in Namibia.

Deputy Minister Silvia Makgone made these remarks at the Government Information Centre.

The aquaculture sector consists of two subsectors: freshwater aquaculture and marine aquaculture.

The marine aquaculture subsector is primarily private-oriented and produces highly valued species such as oysters, abalone, mussels, seaweed, and various fish species.

Currently, there are 11 mariculture farmers in the sector, employing approximately 205 people.

On the other hand, freshwater aquaculture is government-driven and focuses on producing African catfish and tilapia, which help ensure food security for rural households.

To effectively promote the freshwater aquaculture sector, the ministry has established eight operational fish farms and aquaculture centres across the country. These include the Hardap Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Centre in the Hardap region, the Leonardville Fish Farm in the Omaheke region, the Fonteinkie Fish Farm in the Karas region, the Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre in the Omusati Region, the Ongwediva Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Centre in the Oshana region, the Mpungu Demonstration Fish Farm in Kavango West, the Kamushongo Inland Fisheries Institute in the Kavango East region, and the Zambezi Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Centre in the Zambezi Region.

The ministry currently supports approximately 190 small-scale farmers and encourages aspiring fish farmers to visit any of their regional offices for assistance.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the ministry facilitates aquaculture development through the issuance of licenses.

She urged Namibians to take advantage of the government's services and to lodge formal complaints to hold them accountable.