Namibia – A new project has begun in Windhoek to improve and promote the main marine industry in the African countries. The project was launched by the (BCC) Benguela Current Commission and this mission consists of helping the countries to improve the management of the fisheries and carry out a well planned ecosystem approach. The three tagged countries are the Angola, South Africa and Namibia. These regions are the principal targets of the ECOFISH project as they are the areas which have the most important stocks of Horse Mackerel, Sardinella and Hake in Africa. At the world summit in 2002 the specific countries promise to apply the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and the ECOFISH would help them out to carry this task.
The project consists of improving the countries capacity to create and process new data. The ECOFISH will help to develop a better way of collecting new socio-economic data and make sure that information about fishing communities are taken into consideration. The ECOFISH project will be sponsor by the European Union and a contribution of €1.5 million will be available for year 2011 to 2015. This sponsorship of the Science Program will complement with the Benhuela Current Commission through the Norway Government.
The Namibian Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mr. Bernard Esau expressed his gratification to all the supporting associations responsible for this improvement in Namibia. He said that this support has come at an appropriate time as the country was facing some difficulties due to lack of resources. Fortunately the country will be able to face and fill the gaps with the donation from the EU.
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