The fishing industry should restart work to avoid an economic disaster in one of Namibia’s largest income-generating sectors, fisheries minister Albert Kawana said.
Kawana explained this in a letter to health minister Kalumbi Shangula dated 6 April 2020, in which he revealed Namibia’s foreign cash reserves are depleting.
The letter was copied to prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi and other ministers.
Government directed non-essential services to shut down their operations last month to contain the deadly coronavirus.
The fishing sector is only allowed to carry out vessels and fishing factories maintenance. But the industry is now pleading for more room to operate.
“The towns of Lüderitz, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund (after the closure of the tourism industry) and Henties Bay are now entirely dependent on the fishing industry. Its closure is causing a lot of hardship to our people – especially in those towns,” Kawana said.
“Please note once the fish supply chain from vessels to factories is broken, it will immediately start causing severe damage to our operational capabilities going forward with major effects to the whole industry,” the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Association chairperson, Matti Amukwa, said.
The fisheries ministry had asked the confederation to explain how the fishing industry will ensure there is a maximum of 10 employees on a vessel and at processing plants at any given time.
The ministry also asked if professional services would be available on vessels if COVID-19 is detected while at sea.
The confederation said all crew members will be screened and checked by professional medical services before boarding.
2020 AllAfrica