Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA has taken a significant step toward unlocking the full economic potential of its marine resources with the official launch of the Seals Sub-Sector Technical Committee (SSTC), whose committee initiation meeting was held in Windhoek.
Teofilus Nghitila, the Executive Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, officiated at the event.
He highlighted the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration in ensuring that Namibia’s natural resources are utilized responsibly and for the benefit of both people and the environment.
The SSTC brings together experts, industries, and government bodies under one umbrella to promote the sustainable management and value addition of seal resources.
It will oversee and coordinate all activities related to sustainable seal management, value addition, market development, and trade facilitation.
Its key objectives include:
- reviewing and updating the Seals Management Plan to ensure responsible and sustainable harvesting;
- implementing effective population management strategies for seal colonies;
- assessing the impact of having seals listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list to improve trade opportunities; and
- promoting awareness and innovation in seal harvesting and processing.
The SSTC also aims to develop domestic, regional, and international markets for Namibian seal products, produce a comprehensive pocket guide on harvesting and market access procedures, foster stakeholder collaboration that balances economic growth with environmental and social considerations, and advance training and capacity-building programs to enhance local expertise in the seal sub-sector.
As a multi-stakeholder platform, the SSTC comprises representatives from various government ministries, financial institutions, and the fishing industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform chairs the committee, with a representative from the fishing industry serving as Deputy Chairperson. Participating institutions include the Ministries of Environment, Industries, Trade and Health, as well as the Development Bank of Namibia; Bank of Namibia; NamRA; the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board; the Namibia Trade Forum (NTF); the Namibia Standards Institution (NSI); the Fisheries Observers Agency (FOA); and various industry representatives such as seal rights holders and operators.
The SSTC has been given an initial three-year mandate to develop and implement strategies that will transform the seal sub-sector into a model of sustainable resource utilization and economic growth.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Contributed
