Namibia targets 11% marine protection

Namibia has set a target to increase its protected marine areas from 1.7% to 11% by 2030.

Minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Inge Zaamwani on Monday told the Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Roundtable in Mombasa, Kenya, that Namibia is working to improve its management of ocean resources and expand the protection of its marine ecosystems.

“Our ocean is central to our food security, livelihoods and economic development,” she said.

She said the country is applying ecosystem-based management in fisheries, including catch limits, gear restrictions, closed seasons, by-catch controls and the monitoring of fish stocks. Zaamwani said aquaculture, including mariculture, is being developed as captured fisheries reach peak production levels.