The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has embarked upon a hake management plan, aimed at actively managing Namibia's most valuable commercial species. The plan has been in implementation since the start of the month and will run the span of four years.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Bernard Esau outlined the primary objective of the plan saying, "this management plan brings together in one document all relevant policies for the hake fishery. It explains how we will manage the hake fishery during the next few years and identifies where we would like the fishery to be in the future. The development of this management plan represents a new beginning in our fisheries."
The ministry has at its disposal certain management strategies namely the total allowable catch, individual quotas, quota fees, by-catch fees, a number of technical measures and an observer system. These measures aim to protect the resource as well as the environment.
