The more than 600 fishermen who allegedly resigned from the Cavema Joint Venture at Walvis Bay have appealed to the government to give them active employment instead of a monthly allowance.

The Ministries of Fisheries and Labour, together with the joint venture, reached an agreement in 2020 to employ the fishermen in exchange for quotas.

The workers were responding to Derek Klazen, the Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, who urged them to withdraw their alleged resignation from Cavema.

The jobs of more than 600 fishermen who resigned at Walvis Bay, in the Erongo Region, will be offered to other people in the fishing industry.

This is according to Richard Metcalfe, the lawyer representing the four companies that have taken legal action against the employees. 

The workers were employed by Hadago Fishing, Kuiseb Enterprises, Cavema and Vernier Investments in Walvis Bay.

The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) has reiterated its resistance to fishing activities within restricted areas.

Requests to allow fishing in breeding areas from the Wet Landed Horse Mackerel Association are yet to be approved by the Cabinet.

Last month, the Wet Landed Horse Mackerel Association asked Cabinet to allow the sector to catch fish within the restricted 200-metre zone.

The association has warned that 1300 jobs are at risk because it is a struggle to land horse mackerel.