Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister Inge Zaamwani has challenged Namibia's fisheries sector to address five key questions on the protection, governance and economic value of the country's marine resources.

Namibia's fisheries sector is being challenged to move beyond simply harvesting its marine resources and focus on how those resources are governed and transformed into national benefits.

Speaking at the first National Fisheries Indaba, the Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister identified five fundamental questions that must guide the sector's future.

Zaamwani questions Namibia's fisheries framework readiness.

These include protecting fish stocks for present and future generations, governing access to the resource fairly and transparently, maximising its economic and social value, and ensuring fisheries contribute to jobs, livelihoods and food security.

But Zaamwani says the most important question is whether the country has the institutional, legal, technological and policy framework needed to build a competitive sector.

"What institutional, legal, technological, and policy reforms are required to build a resilient and globally competitive fishery and aquaculture economy?" Because without number five, which is the foundation of everything, then our gathering here for the next three days might not bear the fruits that we expect."

The Executive Director of the ministry, Teofilus Nghitila, says technology must play a bigger role in protecting Namibia's marine resources, particularly against illegal fishing.

"How can we set up a system that can ensure functional monitoring of our ocean to make sure our resource is not taken illegally? This is something that we really need to address. I always believe everything has an entry point. I always believe we need to talk less and do more. I think this indaba is an entry point."

Nghitila says reforms must also extend to licensing, quota allocation, monitoring and value addition, while aquaculture could help create alternative livelihoods as marine stocks decline.

The three-day Indaba, where President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah is expected to attend, is identifying priorities, assigning responsibility and developing a pathway towards implementation, monitoring and accountability.