Hake TAC increased for 2011/2012
Hake exporters may get a boost after the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources recently increased the total allowance catch (TAC) for hake for the 2011/2012 season, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Namibia Economist.
The ministry set the increase at 180 000 metric tonnes for the hake season which began 1 May 2011 and will end 1 April 2012; up from from 140 000 metric tonnes for the 2010/ 2011 period. The recommendation was endorsed by Cabinet.
According to Hendrik van der Westhuizen, managing director of Hangana Seafood, an increase in the TAC can have a great impact on the financial contribution of the fishing sector to the country's economy.
In an earlier interview with the Economist, van der Westhuizen said he would like the TAC and quotas for the fishing companies to be increased.
"They should be increased to the maximum sustainable yield level," he said at the time.
With regard to the performance of the fishing sector, van der Westhuizen said the sector has been facing an uphill battle over the past year.
"Factors like the strong rand, higher fuel prices, decreased hard currency prices and weaker demand for high value products made it extremely difficult to produce any profits."
He added that an increase in the TAC will further bring about job creation as well as security for employees in the hake fishing sector due to the availability of funds as a result of the additional quotas.
The TAC for 2011/ 2012 for Horse Mackerel and Pilchard has not yet been allocated at the time of going to print.
The Ministry of Fisheries allocated a TAC of 310 000 metric tonnes for Horse Mackerel for the 2010/2011, an increase from 220 000 metric tones during the 2009/2010 period. The Pilchard TAC remained the same during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, with 25 000 metric tones.
Bernard Esau, Minister of Fisheries, increases the TAC in accordance with Section 38 of the Marine Resources Act 27 of 2000, whereby the Minister may, from time to time set a total allowable catch to limit the quantity which may be harvested in respect of any marine resource in a given period. This is done on the basis of scientific evidence available and having requested the advice of the advisory council and then determine the total allowable catch by notice in the government Gazette.
The ministry set the increase at 180 000 metric tonnes for the hake season which began 1 May 2011 and will end 1 April 2012; up from from 140 000 metric tonnes for the 2010/ 2011 period. The recommendation was endorsed by Cabinet.
According to Hendrik van der Westhuizen, managing director of Hangana Seafood, an increase in the TAC can have a great impact on the financial contribution of the fishing sector to the country's economy.
In an earlier interview with the Economist, van der Westhuizen said he would like the TAC and quotas for the fishing companies to be increased.
"They should be increased to the maximum sustainable yield level," he said at the time.
With regard to the performance of the fishing sector, van der Westhuizen said the sector has been facing an uphill battle over the past year.
"Factors like the strong rand, higher fuel prices, decreased hard currency prices and weaker demand for high value products made it extremely difficult to produce any profits."
He added that an increase in the TAC will further bring about job creation as well as security for employees in the hake fishing sector due to the availability of funds as a result of the additional quotas.
The TAC for 2011/ 2012 for Horse Mackerel and Pilchard has not yet been allocated at the time of going to print.
The Ministry of Fisheries allocated a TAC of 310 000 metric tonnes for Horse Mackerel for the 2010/2011, an increase from 220 000 metric tones during the 2009/2010 period. The Pilchard TAC remained the same during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, with 25 000 metric tones.
Bernard Esau, Minister of Fisheries, increases the TAC in accordance with Section 38 of the Marine Resources Act 27 of 2000, whereby the Minister may, from time to time set a total allowable catch to limit the quantity which may be harvested in respect of any marine resource in a given period. This is done on the basis of scientific evidence available and having requested the advice of the advisory council and then determine the total allowable catch by notice in the government Gazette.
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