The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR), Inge Zaamwani, has called for collective efforts from stakeholders in the fishing industry to curb the declining country's fishing stock levels. 

She made the call while addressing stakeholders during an engagement in Luderitz. 

Minister Zaamwani indicated the government will introduce the scorecard system to assess the fishing right holders' performances and to help identify new right holders. 
She revealed the process to gazette the by-catch  is under way as part of efforts to curb the declining fish stock levels. 

"This is a very serious conversation, especially in a place like Luderitz, where you have a very harsh condition, and the resources are scarce. And if we don't take care of it, over time there will be nothing for us to do here. Our responsibility as the ministry is to ensure that the fisheries and the marine resources fuel the national prosperity and fuel prosperity for individual families that are involved, like yourselves. I am sure the contribution you get from the industry makes a difference somewhat to you and your family. But we must also remember as we harvest resources that we do have future generations that also must benefit from the natural resources we have."

The minister cautioned the right holders to brace for a reduced horse mackerel Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2026 fishing season because of the declining stock levels. 

The fishing industry currently contributes N$10,4 billion to the country's GDP.
The minister said the government's target is to increase this contribution by N$300 million by 2030. 

Zaamwani maintained, "And then there is also expectation and obligation on us as an industry to reduce the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing from our waters. We all know, one way or another, if you are an industry player. Who are those companies, and from which countries are those vessels, and from which countries are those flags that come to fish illegally in our waters?"

Minister Zaamwani also expressed concern over the lack of good governance of right holders' fishing companies, resulting in some shareholders being denied their rightful dividends. 

She urged right holders to also share benefits through their social corporate investment responsibility. 
The moratorium on pilchard fishing, the minister revealed, remains despite assessments indicating significant stock level recoveries.