Unsustainable fishing, pollution, climate change and other human activities continue to exert enormous negative pressure the world’s oceans. These actions have led to pollution of water bodies, depletion of fish stocks, alteration of ecosystem structures and the overall reduction of the ability of ecosystems to adapt to climate variability and change.

In a bid to mitigate this situation, the Government of Namibia and Norway together with FAO signed a cooperative programme agreement for the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAF) -Nansen Programme. The programme is aimed at addressing the multiple impacts of human activities that include overfishing and pollution on fish stocks and the marine environment in general to preserve the productivity of the oceans for the benefit of future generations.

This initiative, which is informed by FAO’s Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, will contribute to the attainment of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14), which aim to protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, enhancing conservation and the sustainable use of ocean-based resources.

New Nansen survey vessel docks in Namibia

With over three billion people worldwide depending on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods, it is essential for countries such as Namibia to continuously militate against detrimental effects to the ecosystem as well as other human-related impacts.  As part of the five-year programme, Namibia is participating in a regional pelagic resource and ecosystem survey conducted aboard the new Dr. Fridtjof Nansen research vessel - one of the world's most advanced marine research facilities.  The marine study is a partnership between Norway’s Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the Institute of Marine Research of Bergen (IMR), the African coastal countries and FAO.

Madam Kiki Gbeho, UN Resident Coordinator and FAO Representative a.i. stated that, the global 2030 agenda for sustainable development agreed by UN member states in 2015, accords primary to people, the planet, and prosperity in partnership and peace.  SDG 14, Life Below Water is dedicated to the oceans and is considered one of the most ambitious SDGs.

“The first phase of the Nansen Programme began in December 2006 to December 2011.  This new phase, with a new research vessel, continues to support research in fisheries management while also taking into account the impact of climate change and pollution.  The Nansen vessel made available to FAO by the Government of Norway and operated with the support of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), is the most advanced marine research vessel in the world.”  He added.

The survey will provide a synopsis of the leading pelagic stocks and their ecology, through the collection of biological data and tissue samples for genetic studies. The Nansen voyage research campaign, which started on 8 May 2017 in Morocco, arrived in Walvis Bay this month, where Namibian officials welcomed it. It is the first time that this new state of the art ship bearing the United Nations flag brings important innovations and technological advancements to the shores of Southern Africa.

Programme strategy and interventions

Namibia has one of the most productive fishing industries in Africa, which not only harbours rich biodiversity and some of the most abundant marine life concentrations in the world but also provides livelihoods and food and security for many. Namibia’s commitment to the EAF-Nansen Programme will help address existing weaknesses in fisheries management and identify interventions that will create the opportunity for long-term sustainable and transformational change.

To achieve this, the EAF-Nansen Programme is designed around three areas of work that include; strengthening the knowledge base for the sustainable management of fisheries, supporting improved fisheries policy and management in line with EAF and developing capacity at institutional and human resources levels, including the promotion of gender equality.

Responding to questions on Saturday morning on board the world’s most advanced research vessel, researcher and scientist Bjoern Erik Axelsen, who is part of the team carrying out a regional survey on pelagic resources off the Atlantic coast of Africa, said that currently not only Namibia faces a crisis in terms of the resource.  “This is experienced by all fishing countries in the world, not only Namibia,” he explained.

The long-term objective of the EAF-Nansen programme is to strengthen regional and country-specific efforts to reduce poverty and create conditions to assist in the achievement of food security. This is done through the development of sustainable fisheries management regimes and specifically, through the application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries.