Illegal shark fishing in Namibia, fishermen
to Face Court
Published August 24, 2004
SharkTrust.org
The case involving the Spanish registered vessel caught fishing
illegally in Namibian waters at the end of last week is to be
heard in court on 1st July.
The captain of the ship, reportedly a South African citizen, is
currently in police custody, while the remaining crewmembers are
under police guard onboard the Maral, awaiting the scheduled hearing.
AAccording to the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Fisheries and Marine Resources, Peter Amutenya, a formal charge
was laid against the erring vessel.
TThe ship was caught red-handed with its long-line fishing gear
in the waters by the Nathaniel Maxuilili patrol vessel last week.
IIn count, it carried 24 maco shark, 4 tuna fish, 21 blue shark,
10 swordfish, and one moonfish.
Legal expert in marine law, Victor Bok, said that it is illegal
to fish for shark and swordfish, as these are no quota species.
He said that these species are only fished in experimental waters,
and that a special license is required for it.
The Maral had no license, let alone a special license for those
species, to fish in Namibian waters. All vessels - irrespective
of nationality - are required to obtain a license in order to
fish commercially within Namibia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Ministry of Fisheries issues between 300 and 350 licenses
to vessels each year.
In general, incidents of illegal, unreported and un-regulated
(IUU) fishing have been reduced to a minimum since independence,
noted Amutenya.
In 1991 eight cases of illegal fishing were reported. Spanish
nationals perpetrated all eight. In 1991 one Spanish vessel was
again caught.
In 1993 a vessel from Congo-Brazzaville was apprehended, and the
following year one again from Spain. The last vessel since last
week to be apprehended was from Belize.
Bok told New Era of a further five vessels that were apprehended
in the SADC MCS (monitoring control and surveillance area) along
the Angolan coastline last week.
Fish stock impounded on the Maral will be kept in freeze-storage
for evidence in the matter. It is later to be given to some or
other charity.
