The Namibian fishing industry is based on the Benguela Current System, one of the four eastern boundary upwelling systems in the world ( the others are off north – West Africa, off California and off Peru). These systems support rich stocks of demersal and small pelagic species.
Namibia‘s 200 – nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)’s commercial biomass contain about 20 different, commercially luctrative species consisting primarily of small pelagic species (pilchard, anchovy and juvenile mackerel) and lobster along the shallower onshore waters on the continental shelf, as well as large pelagic species
including adult mackerel, demersal hake and other deep – sea species (monkfish, sole and crab) in the waters further offshore. Large Pelagic species includes Tuna species such as southern albacore, big eye, yellowfin, swordfish as well as pelagic sharks such as blue shark, thresher, mako and hammerhead.
Mid – and deep – water trawling for hake, horse – mackerel, monk and sole account for over three – quarters of the country’s weighted fish output. This is followed by purse – seiming for pilchards, anchovy and juvenile horse – mackerel; ring and bow net harvesting of inshore lobster and deep – sea crab, and line fishing for tuna, kob and snoek.
Also found in the Namibian EEZ deep–sea are the most valuable species of orange roughy, alfonsino and oreo dories.
Mariculture is also a growing sub – sector in Namibia’s fisheries, with 6 oyster farms and one seaweed harvesting enterprises already well established.
Fish production activities involve fishing, fish processing (including fish canning), as well as mariculture. Some of the current value additions are fish meal and fish oil production, skinning, cut filleting, trimming, cooking, and packaging.