The Confederation of Fishing Associations in Namibia (NCFA) has expressed its concern about the big impact the phosphate mine could have on the environment. This plan, once in operation, could extract about 5 million tons of phosphate per year from the seabed of Walvis Bay.
This plan will have a huge brunt on the marine life around the coast and can also affect Namibia's largest contributor. The possible consequences this could lead to are; the destruction of the natural habitat of fish, harming the food chain routine, the release of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) into the water, the removal of feeding grounds and typical spawns. These aspects will have a bad effect on the fishing sector and also harming various marine species.
“The NCFA consider the mining license as a serious threat for their industry”, stated Mr Bernhard Esau Minister of the Fisheries and Marine Resources. Mr Esau also highlighted that he has been engaging the related ministries in analyzing the environmental shock Assessment study which will be completed in a delay of 6 months.
