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MEDIA
RELEASE BY THE PERMANENT
SECRETARY: FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES: 21
DECEMBER 2001
HARVESTING FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES
Regulations related to the
exploitation of Marine Resources, made in terms of
section 61(1) of the new Marine Resources Act, (Act No 27
of 2000), came into force on the 1st August 2001 and
amended on 7th December 2001. A large number of visitors
enjoy recreational fishing along the coast. It is then
important that the general public takes note of some
relevant aspects of the new Marine Resources Regulations.
Conservation measures include inter alia the following:
Regulation 5 - Permit.
(1) A person who, for recreational
purposes harvests in Namibian waters, must –
a. be in possession of a fishing
permit; and
b. carry out such harvesting subject to the
conditions prescribed by these regulations.
(2) A person referred to in subregulation
(1), who is found without a fishing permit-
a. is guilty of an offence; and
b. must produce that permit within a period of 21
days from the day on which the person pays the fine
prescribed in regulation 39 (h) (iii) in respect of a
failure to comply with subregulation (1) (a)
(3) A person, who fails to produce a
fishing permit within the period of time prescribed by
subregulation (2), is guilty of an offence.
Regulation 6 - Means of
harvest for recreational purposes
A person may not for recreational purposes
harvest marine resources by any means other than-
a. a hook and line, whether operated
by a rod and reel or otherwise, and using a scoop net
to lift rock lobsters from the water once they have
been reeled to the surface;
b. a ring net; or
c. diving.
Regulation 7 - Issuance
of recreational permits
1) A fishing permit for recreational
purposes referred to in regulation 5 (a) must be issued
by the Minister or by any person or authority authorised
thereto by the Minister, if that person or authority
agreed to do so.
2) A
fishing permit-
a. must be issued in the form set out
in Annexure L; and
b. may be issued for a period of either one month or
one year and may be obtained upon payment of a fee
determined by the Minister as illustrated below.
One month against payment of N$14.00
One year against payment of N$168.00.
Fishing permits for recreational purposes
are now available at the below listed places:
1. Ministry of Fisheries & Marine
Resources,
Brendan Simbwaye Square, Block C,
C/O Uhland & Goethe Street,
Private Bag 133355, Windhoek
Telephone: 061 2053911
Facsimile: 061-240412
2. Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources,
Inspectorate Office, 1st Street,
P.O. Box 1594, Walvis Bay
Telephone: 064-2016111
Facsimile: 064-205008
3. Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources,
NATMIRC/Aquarium, Strand Street,
P.O. Box 912 , Swakopmund
Telephone: 064-4101000
Facsimile: 064-404385
4. Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources,
Inspectorate Office
P.O. Box 394, Luderitz
Telephone: 063-202905
Facsimile: 063-203337
5. Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources,
Henties Bay Fishing Centre,
Telephone: +264-64-500320
However, we have noticed that some anglers
are not bringing the required documentation when
purchasing the permits. We urge the public to produce
Identity Cards or Passports for intended permit holders.
Anglers under the age of 18 are requested to produce
birth certificates and passport photos in order for them
to be issued with fishing permits.
Regulation 8 - Daily bag limit
(1) A person may not, for recreational
purposes, in one day harvest more than-
a. 30 fish of the species barbel;
b. 20 fish of the species snoek
c. one (1) shark
(4) Subject to subregulation (3) an 11 (1)
a person may for recreational purposes harvest any of the
following species of fish:
a. blacktail (dassie);
b. galjoen,;
c. kob (kabeljou;
d. West Coast steenbras;
Provided that the total of fish harvested
does not exceed 10 in one day.
(5) A person may not harvest any species of fish referred
to in subregulation (2), which is smaller or larger, as
the case may be, than the size specified in Annexure J.
For the purpose of subregulation 8(3), the species
referred to in regulation 8(2) may not, including head
and tail, be shorter than –
a. 25 cm in the case of blacktail
(dassie);
b. 30 cm in the case of galjoen;
c. Subject to 2(a), 40 cm in the case of kob
(kabeljou);and,
d. Subject to paragraph 2 (b) 40 cm in the case of
West Coast steenbras.
Notwithstanding paragraph 1(c) and (d), a
person harvesting for recreational purposes may not in
one day harvest-
a) more than 2 individuals of kob that
are each longer than 70 cm, including head and tail;
b) more than 2 individuals of West coast steenbras
that are each longer than 65 cm including head and
tail.
(5) A person may not-
a. harvest more than 7 rock lobsters
in one day; or
b. accumulate or have in his or her possession more
than 7 rock lobsters.
Regulation 11 - Possession and
Transport of marine resources
1) A person may not have in his or her
possession or transport in a vehicle or vessel any
quantity of marine resources caught for recreational
purposes-
a. which exceeds the accumulated bag
of more than three days in respect of the fish
referred to in subregulation 8(1) and (2): Provided
that, in respect of regulation 8(2), the accumulated
bag of 30 fish does not contain more than 10 fish of
one particular species of fish and;
b. without being in possession of a fishing permit.
2) A person may have in his or her
possession or transport in a vehicle or vessel fish
referred to in subregulation 8(1) and (2), or rock
lobsters referred to in regulation 8(4), on behalf of
another person, providing that person is present and in
possession of a fishing permit.
3) A person may not have in his or her possession or
transport in a vehicle or vessel fish, which is not in a
whole state, if that fish is subjected to the size limits
referred to in regulation 8(3).
Rock Lobster
The Fishing season and the minimum size
remains unchanged, i.e. from 1st November to 30th April,
both days included and 65mm carapace length respectively.
The maximum number a person may catch and retain, is
seven (7) rock lobster per day per permit holder. No more
than seven (7) rock lobster per permit holder shall be
transported at any time in or on a vehicle and such
lobster shall be in a whole state. A person may not
harvest any rock lobster between sunset and sunrise.
Quantity or mass of Marine
Resources that may be harvested for own use without a
fishing permit
a. 1 kg of aquatic plants, other than
brown seaweed;
b. 50 black mussels;
c. 2,5 kg dry weight or 10 kg wet weight of brown
seaweed;
d. 15 limpets
e. 5 molluscs, other than black mussel, limpet,
periwinkle or white mussel;
f. 25 periwinkles;
g. 10 kg of seashells; and
h. 25 white mussels.
A person referred to in subregulation (5)
may not harvest or have in his or her possession-
a. more than the quantity specified in Annexure K in
respect of the marine resources referred to in that
Annexure; or
b. white mussel that is able to pass through a ring with
an inner diameter of 38 mm, when it is in a whole state.
Fishing areas for recreational purposes
Fishing for recreational purposes is
allowed only in the following areas:
a. Terrace Bay and Torra Bay
b. From the Ugab River to Walvis Bay (excluding the
Cape Cross area)
c. Pelican Point to Sandwich Harbour
d. From the northern limits of Lüderitz Bay to
Grosse Bucht; and
e. From Pamona Island to the Orange River.
Regulation 9 - Prohibited species
A person may not -
a. use as bait or have in his or
her possession any worms, (worms are prohibited);
b. collect any red bait by cutting or in any
other way dislodging the red bait from the
substract, except red bait which has been washed
op on the sea shore.
Inspection
A fishing permit for recreational
purposes must be presented to Fisheries Inspectors
during inspections or on request.
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