National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries 2022-2026

1 Namibia’s National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) was developed with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). The NPOA-SSF was developed against the backdrop of the Global FAO Umbrella Programme “enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods” which supports the promotion, application, and subsequent implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the context of food security and poverty alleviation (SSF Guidelines) giving emphasis to empowering vulnerable and marginalised small-scale fisheries actors and their organizations to engage in relevant processes that affect their livelihoods. The SSF Guidelines are an international voluntary instrument focusing on the needs of developing countries but applicable globally, to various types of small-scale fisheries, and to the entire small-scale fisheries value chain. The SSF Guidelines have been developed to complement the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code) which recognises the nutritional, economic, social, environmental, and cultural importance of fisheries, and the interest of all those concerned with the fishery. The SSF Guidelines place an emphasis on marginalized small-scale fishing communities, small-scale fishers (both female and male), fish workers and related activities within the small-scale fisheries value chain. The SSF Guidelines are intended to support the visibility, recognition, and enhancement of the important role of small-scale fisheries and through the NPOA-SSF, they contribute to Namibia’s national efforts towards the eradication of hunger and poverty. The SSF Guidelines support a human rights approach to responsible fisheries and sustainable and economic development for the benefit of current and future generations within the small-scale fisheries sector. 1 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Introduction and Background.........................................................................................................................7 4. Rationale for developing the NPOA-SSF ..................................................................................................... 8 5. History of Small-Scale Fisheries in Namibia ................................................................................................ 9 6. Profile of Namibia’s Small-Scale Fisheries Sector ..................................................................................... 11 7. Small-Scale Fisheries Stakeholders ............................................................................................................18 8. The value of Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector ................................................................................. 24 9. Positioning local knowledge in small-scale fisheries management ........................................................ 28 10. SSF Governance Framework ....................................................................................................................... 29 11. Alternative small-scale fisheries management approaches ....................................................................32 12. The National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries .............................................................................33 13. SWOT Analysis .............................................................................................................................................36 14. Implementation Arrangements ................................................................................................................... 37 15. Indicative Logframe Matrix ......................................................................................................................... 38 16. Action Plan ....................................................................................................................................................42 17. Results Budget .............................................................................................................................................44 18. References ....................................................................................................................................................45 Figures Figure 1: Neckartal Dam, the largest constructed storage dam in Namibia is a potential livelihood support system for a small-scale fisheries sector in the //Karas Region ................................................. 14 Figure 2: Hon Aletha Fredricks, //Karas Regional Governor together with the MFMR, FAO and the MAWLR conducted the first fisheries research survey on the Neckartal Dam in October 2021 ......................... 14 Figure 3: Small-Scale Fishery or Large Scale Fishery? Under the NPOA-SSF, Namibia’s Ski Boat fishery is classified as a small-scale fishery ............................................................... 15 Figure 4: Stakeholder consultations across the 14 Regions of Namibia were a cornerstone of the development process for the NPOA-SSF ......................................................................................... 19 Figure 5: A woman fish vendor at the Katima Mulilo Market sells fresh fish that she carried, on ice from the river. Fish is sold at between N$ 35 – N$45 per kg depending on the season and the demand ................... 21 Figure 6: A majority of the catfish that is sold and traded at the Katima Mulilo market is dried. It is estimated that 70 – 80% of the dried catfish is sold to local markets in north-western Namibia where dried catfish is considered a delicacy .........................................................................................................22 Tables Table 1: Primary species and ecosystems utilized by inland and coastal small-scale fishers .....................15 Table 2: Status of Small-Scale Fisheries Organisations (SSFO) in Namibia ...................................................17 Table 3: Key small-scale fisheries stakeholders ................................................................................................18 Table 4: Results from the 2021 SWOT Survey on approaches for establishing SSFO .................................. 20 Table 5: The NPOA-SSF Sub-Programme supporting Small-Scale Fisheries Organisation and Capacity Development ..................................................................................................................20 Table 6: The NPOA-SSF Sub-Programme supporting Climate Change and Gender .................................... 23 Table 7: A preliminary estimate of the value of Namibia’s SSF sector ........................................................... 24 Table 8: Socio economic contribution of small-scale fisheries (directly & indirectly) to livelihoods .......... 25 Table 9: Key indicators required to determine the contribution and value of Namibia’s SSF sector .......... 26 Table 10: Recognizing the knowledge gap in socio-economic data for SSF – principles, approaches, and methodologies for consideration ................................................................................................. 26 Table 11: Summary of key international laws and instruments, relevant to sustainable SS to which Namibia is a party ..................................................................................................................29 Table 12: Namibia’s National legal framework is enabling in terms of SSF development ..............................30 Table 13: Alternative small-scale fisheries management resources, tools and approaches ......................... 32 3 AFDB African Development Bank BCC Benguela Current Commission BCLME Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem BSBFA Benguela Ski Boat Fishing Association CCRF FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries COFI FAO Committee on Fisheries CPF Country Programming Framework of FAO EAF Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation GDP Gross Domestic Product GRN Government of Namibia HAFA Hanganeni Artisanal Fishing Association HRBA Human Rights Based Approach INDUNA Head of a Sub-khuta, a chief or village headman IFFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFRA Inland Fisheries Resources Act IR on SSF Integrated Report on Small-Scale Fisheries in Namibia IRDNC Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation Khuta Traditional Authority (TA) LEK Local Ecological Knowledge LFS Large Scale Fishery MALR Ministry of Agriculture & Land Reform MEAL Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning MEFT Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism MFMR Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources MIT Ministry of Industrialisation & Trade MRA Marine Resources Act NFCPT Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NNF Namibia Nature Foundation NSAA Namibia Shore Angling Association NTF National Task Force NPOA-SSF National Plan of Action for Small Scale Fisheries OOH One Ocean Hub OMAs Offices, Ministries and Agencies SADC Southern African Development Community SD Sustainable Development SSF Small-Scale Fisheries SSF Guidelines Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale fisheries in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication SSFC Small-Scale Fishing Communities SSFO Small-Scale Fisheries Organisations Sub-Khuta Local Division of Traditional Authorities SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats TEC Traditional Ecological Knowledge TAC Total Allowable Catch t/y Tonnes per year UNAM University of Namibia WWF Worldwide Fund for Nature LIST OF ACRONYMS 4 The contribution of aquatic ecosystems to the world’s economy and social welfare is critical because aquatic ecosystems provide jobs, food, ecological services, tourism opportunities, livelihood, and nutrition security for many riparian and coastal communities the world over. In line with the Fifth National Development Plan (NPD 5) and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, in 2020, Namibia through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) adopted the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) and developed Namibia’s National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) for the period 2022- 2026. It is now conservatively estimated that Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sub-sector provides income, socio economic benefits, food, and nutrition security to over 280,000 Namibians. Direct employment (self, seasonal and paid) is estimated at 46,500 fisherwomen and men across the entire small-scale fisheries value chain (including producers, fish traders, fish workers and fish processors) in both inland and coastal fishing areas. The small-scale fisheries sector is often under-estimated in national accounts and the MFMR would like to change this scenario going forward. The NPOA-SSF recognises the important role that the small-scale fisheries sector plays in socio-economic development and requisite economic transformation. NPOA-SSF strategies support small-scale fisheries development; build resilience for small-scale fishers (including fisherwomen, fishermen, fish workers, fish traders, fish processors, youth and persons living with disabilities - the majority of whom happen to be previously disadvantaged riparian and coastal communities) and secures their livelihoods. The plan promotes inclusivity and social equity, and provides empowerment opportunities for small-scale fishers, by advocating for equitable fisheries resource distribution. The NPOA-SSF demonstrates Government’s commitment to promote inclusion, secure the livelihoods of small-scale fishers, and to safeguard the rights of riparian and coastal communities as established in the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, Blue Economy Policy, and other instruments such as SDG 14b, “Life below water”. Namibia’s launch of the NPOA-SSF in July 2022 is timely since it coincides with the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022) which celebrates the contribution of small-scale fisherwomen, men, fish traders, fish workers and fishing communities to socio-economic development across the world. I would like to acknowledge the technical support provided by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and key strategic partners in developing Namibia’s NPOA-SSF. I am convinced that small-scale fisheries is an important food and nutrition security pillar and call upon strategic partners, private sector, and key stakeholders to support the NPOA-SSF’s strategic, social, environmental, and economic development intent. Together, we can realise the human dimensions in fisheries management – and by so doing, Namibia can ensure that the human rights of small-scale fishers remains central to the sector’s development, while maintaining sustainable resource management and utilisation practices. Hon. Derek Klazen, MP Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources 1. FOREWORD 5 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Government of Namibia (GRN) through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) commissioned this National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) on a voluntary basis. The NPOA-SSF is Government’s commitment towards actioning the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) for Namibia’s small-scale fishers, fishing communities and fisheries dependent communities. The role of the NPOA-SSF is (i) to recognize the role and socio-economic importance of small-scale fisheries in terms of their contribution to food and nutrition security, employment, and livelihoods (ii) to improve management approaches for SSF and SSF resources and (ii) to ultimately advance policy dialogue on small scale fisheries through enriching policy direction, engagement, and implementation processes at the local and national levels. To contextualise small-scale fisheries in relation to socio-economic development, food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation, an overview of the global, Africa Regional and National contributions is presented: Globally, it is estimated that 90% of the people employed along capture fisheries value chains operate in small-scale fisheries. Approximately 492 million people depend at least partially on small-scale fisheries for their livelihoods, and over 45 million of these are women who participate in small-scale fisheries, including for subsistence purposes. Over 90% of all small-scale fishers live in developing countries (such as Namibia) and catch 40% of global fisheries catch. Co-management is likely implemented for about 20% of the catch from small-scale fisheries. Small fish and midwater fish are especially nutritious and are found abundantly in small-scale fisheries landings. Over millions of metric tons of fish from the small-scale fisheries sector are hidden or unreported. This global estimate establishes that small-scale fisheries contribute more directly to attaining the goals of poverty eradication and food security than large-scale fisheries- even though, the latter’s economic contribution is in most instances more significant and is better captured in national accounts.1 In the African Region, it is estimated that small-scale fisheries account for more than 60% of Africa’s fish production, supporting the livelihoods of over 10 million Africans directly. While over 200 million Africans rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein and micro-nutrients, the small-scale fisheries sector provides more than 90% of the fish consumed across the continent and employs over 95% of the small scale fisherwomen and men on the continent.1 Namibia conservatively estimates that the small-scale fisheries sub-sector directly supports the livelihoods of over 280,000 Namibians, making up approximately 11% of the country’s total population (Primary livelihood’s support is in the form of income, employment, socio-economic benefits, food, and nutrition security).2 Direct support to small-scale fisheries sector in the form of self, seasonal or paid employment is estimated at 46,500 of which 45,000 jobs are estimated in the inland fisheries sector and 1,500 jobs are in the coastal small-scale fisheries sector.3 The development of an NPOA-SSF is a significant milestone for small-scale fisheries in Namibia since it provides special considerations and specific actions to move the small-scale fisheries sector from an under 1 FAO. 2021. Voluntary Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). (Facts and Figures.) and FAO.2022. Illuminating Hidden Harvests Report 2 MFMR. 2021. National consultations towards a National Plan of Action for small-scale fisheries in Namibia. 3 MFMR. 2021. Conservative estimates provided by MFMR personnel during the National consultations towards a National Plan of Action for small-scale fisheries in Namibia. The number could be higher, this information gap justifies further research. 6 estimated sector to one which recognizes the rights small-scale fisherwomen and men and the significance of their contribution to socio-economic development. For a sector that has historically been under-estimated and neglected from a socio-economic perspective, the small-scale fishing actors have proven resilient, possibly due to inter-generational and innate knowledge which has enabled them to sustain their livelihoods even during adverse economic and social conditions and circumstances. The NPOA-SSF acknowledges that fish are an important aquatic food system component for Namibians, and since small-scale fisheries supports the livelihoods of hundreds of Namibians, the sector will receive increased attention and support. The NPOA-SSF also acknowledges that there are substantial governance challenges within the complex small-scale fisheries sector, and thus presents key strategic actions and approaches which are expected to unleash the sector’s potential to contribute to long-term national food security and nutrition goals, while contributing to the equitable development of small-scale fishing communities, achieving sustainable resource utilization and responsible resource management. Oreochromis andersonii - caught in the Neckartal Dam, //Karas Region by the MFMR Research Team. 7 3. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND In September 2020, the Government of Namibia, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) committed to develop her National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) with a view to supporting implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines) in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. The role of the NPOA-SSF is to ultimately advance policy dialogue on sustainable small-scale fisheries and to enrich policy direction, engagement, and implementation processes. The NPOA-SSF was being developed against the backdrop of the Global FAO Umbrella Programme “enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods” which supports the promotion, application, and subsequent implementation of the SSF Guidelines, giving emphasis to empowering vulnerable and marginalised small-scale fisheries actors and their organizations to engage in relevant processes that affect their livelihoods. Development of the NPOA-SSF was participatory, and a series of Regional Stakeholder consultations were held with over 390 key SSF stakeholders and major beneficiary groups (including small-scale fisheries actors, fisherwomen and men and their organisations, regional and local authorities, traditional authorities, Offices, Ministries and Agencies) across all fourteen 14 Regions of Namibia. The information harvested from the Regional Stakeholder consultations provided evidence for profiling and characterizing Namibia’s Small Scale Fisheries Sector, and for developing Namibia’s National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries. Partnerships, collaboration, and joint effort were critical to develop and realise the NPOA-SSF, hence programme development was led, guided, and facilitated by a National Small-Scale Fisheries Task Force (SSF-NTF) representing multiple organisations including representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR); Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Benguela Current Convention (BCC), Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), and the University of Namibia (UNAM). Technical support was provided through the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and is guided by the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Namibia (2019-2023) which responds to four (4) CPF priority areas including (i) Strengthening Policy (ii) Improving Agricultural Production (iii) Strengthening capacity for Natural Resource Management and Land Governance and (iv) Strengthening capacity for Disaster risk reduction, resilience building and climate change adaptation and mitigation. 8 4. RATIONALE FOR DEVELOPING THE NPOA-SSF Small-Scale Fisheries is a critical component of the multi-activity livelihood system for fisheries dependent communities living along Namibia’s coastal and riverine systems, along water bodies such as dams and lakes as well as man-made water bodies that occur in various regions countrywide. Despite this high relevance, the economic impact of Namibia’s inland and coastal small-scale fisheries sectors are not fully recognised and institutionally supported. Prior research provides evidence that food insecurity and poverty in small-scale fishing communities is of a multidimensional nature and is not only caused by dwindling fishery resources, environmental factors, and low incomes but also due to factors that impede full enjoyment of human rights including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.4 The regional stakeholder consultations identified that small-scale fishing communities (both inland and coastal) are faced with countless challenges ranging from poverty, food insecurity, access restrictions, resource depletion, habitat degradation and inequitable resource allocation (resource allocation is primarily relevant to coastal small-scale fisheries). These challenges result in a range of pressures, some of which affect SSF livelihoods, and thus require investigation to create awareness and to design appropriate solutions to support applicable adaptation measures that are applicable at the local level and driven through participative structures such as small-scale fisheries organisations (SSFOs). The identified challenges and opportunities in the SSF sector prompted the design of key interventions to close the gaps. In terms of inland fisheries, the fisheries resources of the Cubango-Okavango River Basin (or CORB) which is a transboundary basin with a network of river systems traversing through Angola, Botswana, and Namibia as well as the Zambezi, Kunene, Cuvelai and Orange River Systems have been studied extensively in the past.5 For example, there is abundant data available on the fish stocks in the floodplains of the Okavango Delta (however, this data is not centralized to stimulate further research use); in 2014, a fisheries transboundary management plan was developed for the Cubango-Kavango River Basin6 (but has not yet been implemented). These past interventions have been critical for fisheries management but have not adequately addressed the socio-economic dimensions of small-scale fisheries and fisheries dependent communities. Equally lacking is information on the critical role played by women and children in the small-scale fisheries sector – this is despite empirical evidence that women play an important role within small-scale fishing communities across the inland and coastal SSF subsectors, primarily through value chain activities and contributing to household food security and income. For marine fisheries, research work (BCC, BCLME), notably community-level socio-ecological Rapid Vulnerability Assessments (RVA) in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) Region has led to an analysis of climate change risks and impacts on small-scale coastal fishing communities (in Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Luderitz). The studies confirmed that the RVA is an effective tool for gathering a significant amount of information on local socio-ecological vulnerabilities in relation to environmental and climate change in a short period and mitigating action has been proposed that requires modelling, validation, and action. This work is valuable and can lead to the adaptation of fisheries practices and fisheries management to climate change through a small-scale fisheries lens. The above studies are relatively new, and it has been established that small-scale fisheries research has not been adequately addressed in Namibia’s context, therefore small-scale fisheries resource management and broader social and economic development perspectives require further dedicated research. The SSF Guidelines were developed to address this gap. The NPOA-SSF will also support Namibia’s achievement of a number of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably 14.b (Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets) but also SGDs 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 5 (Gender equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (Climate action), and SDG 16 (Peace, justice, and strong institutions). 4 FAO. 2007. Increasing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security. 5 Kangausaru, 2018; Simasiku et. al, 2017; Hay et al, 1996,1997,1999,2000,2002; van der Waal, 1991 6 Tweddle & Hay, 2013. Fisheries transboundary management plan for the Cubango-Kavango River Basin. 9 Historically, small-scale fisheries were not by law, formally recognized in Namibia, and SSF do not have tenure rights. The Inland Fisheries Resources Act of 2003 recognizes “subsistence fisheries” as those fishing activities whose fishers regularly catch fish using traditional fishing gear for personal and household consumption and engage from time to time in the local sale or barter of excess catch; and “recreational fisheries” as fisheries conducted by individuals primarily for sport but with a possible secondary objective of catching fish for domestic consumption but not for onward sale.7 Despite this gap in legislation, there is now a clear indication that the fisheries dependent coastal and inland fishing communities display the characteristics of what are commonly recognised as small-scale fisheries elsewhere in the world i.e. operated by poor (inland and coastal) fishers, with a long-standing cultural basis, are privately owned and operated, employ only low technology gear and have limited fishing ranges, as well as being fisheries in which the catches are often used partly for subsistence purposes.8 The NPOA SSF provides the first attempt to formally recognize small-scale fisheries actors, by defining, profiling, and characterizing the sub-sectors in Section 6. In terms of historical exploitation, there is limited and scattered data on exploitation (volumes) and catches of fisheries resources by small-scale fishing communities. It is therefore expected that biological information on catch volumes would be the subject of further research and investigation which can strengthen and compliment future NPOA-SSF strategic action. 5.1 History of coastal small-scale fisheries In the mid to late 1900’s, urban migration patterns resulted in communities moving from inland to coastal towns such as Lüderitz, Swakopmund and Henties Bay in search of economic opportunities presented by emerging industries including fishing and mining. Communities settled in these coastal towns and took up employment within various industrial sectors. Communities who could not find formal employment resorted to fishing as a livelihood option and it is this urban migration period that signifies the emergence of coastal fishing communities. Today, small-scale fishers, both women and men, frequent the coastal areas of the three towns, with a majority of them depending on fishing, shellfish collection and processing marketing of fish and fisheries products as a primary livelihood and income source. Namibian’s who used to frequent the coastal towns of Luderitz, Oranjemund, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay will recall how women were skilled in preparing “kerrie-vis” or curry-fish dishes as well as bottling and pickling rock lobster. Both dishes were and continue being considered delicacies to this day - the supply, however, has declined, and so has the livelihood options for these women. 5.2 History of inland small-scale fisheries Historically, inland fisheries have been supported by rivers, lakes, state and private dams, and pans (iishana9) across the 14 Regions of the country. The sub-sector is a predominant food, nutrition and livelihood option for riparian communities living along the various water bodies, thus playing an important role in the livelihoods of Namibians. 7 MFMR. Inland Fisheries Resources Act of 2003. 8 Sowman et.al. 2011. Human dimensions of small-scale fisheries in the BCLME region: An overview. 9 “Iishana” is the plural of “Oshana” - a term used in the Oshiwambo language which is in currently generally used to denote floodplains or sub-basins 5. HISTORY OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES IN NAMIBIA 10 In the north-eastern regions of the country such as the Kavango and Zambezi, inland communities have been living along the major rivers and lakes for many years, and the natural fish resources support partial and, in some cases, total livelihoods. In the central (Khomas and Otjozondjupa Regions) and southern (Hardap and //Karas Regions) communities started making use of the Orange River, state, and private dams as a source of livelihoods. Fish were caught for own consumption and slowly, the trade in fish as a food source started to grow. In the north-western regions (Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, Kunene and Ohangwena), fishing took place during the seasonal flood, locally known as the “efundja” which takes place annually from January to April. Seemingly insignificant, the fishery supports an estimated 1000 fishers3 (possibly more during peak flooding seasons), and fishers camp along the floodplain areas to fish as a complimentary livelihood source. When the water subsides, local fisherwomen and men follow the fish to omadhiya (lakes) complex (Oponono, Yinakulu yo Madhiya, Uulili, Manetha) where they would normally camp and continue fishing for the remainder of the fishing season (and sometimes even up to the end of the year). A historical trend which continues today is fish processing (in the form of drying) an activity primarily undertaken by women. Productions were for own consumption or trade to earn an income to support alternative livelihood options such as buying food for their households, clothing for their children or paying for education for their children. Historically, inland fisheries has focused on the biology and management of the fisheries resources; determining fish stock abundance and addressing transboundary fisheries management issues across various river basins such as the Kavango, Cuvelai, Kunene and Orange River Basins. In the context of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale fisheries, historically, not much support and recognition has been given to the human dimension of small-scale fishers – the men, women and communities who depend on the fisheries resources as a livelihood source. The SSF Guidelines define recognition of SSF in terms of secure tenure rights; social development, employment, and decent work; support to value chains, post-harvest and trade, gender equality and mitigation of disaster risks and climate change. The NPOA-SSF in turn translates these key intervention areas into strategic action with a view to improving the human dimensions of the small-scale fisheries sector. 10 11 6. PROFILE OF NAMIBIA’S SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES SECTOR 6.1 Defining and Characterizing Namibia’s SSF Sector Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector consists of two subsectors, namely inland small-scale fisheries and coastal (or marine) small-scale fisheries. The NPOA-SSF development process involved two key processes of (i) defining and characterizing the small-scale fisheries sector since this has not been done previously and (ii) presenting parameters that differentiate small-scale fisheries (SSF) from industrial or Large-Scale Fisheries (LSF). In defining small-scale fisheries, questions were posed as to “who is a small-scale fisher” and “what are the characteristics of a small-scale fishery” in Namibia’s context? A national definition for small-scale fisheries was then crafted through consolidating information from various sources including (i) a desk review of global and national SSF definitions (ii) the SSF Task Force made inputs to the definition and (iii) a legal review was undertaken to determine the degree of alignment of Namibia’s fisheries policy and law to the SSF Guidelines, in the context of food security and poverty eradication. The definition process considered provisions in Namibia’s Inland Fisheries Resources Act (IFRA) of 2003; the Marine Resources Act of 2000; the FAO’s global definition of Small-Scale Fisheries and consultations with key National SSF stakeholders. Existing policy and legislation characterize and defines subsistence fisheries as “those fishing activities whose fishers regularly catch fish using traditional fishing gear for personal and household consumption and engage from time to time in the local sale or barter of excess catch” and recreational fisheries as “fisheries conducted by individuals primarily for sport but with a possible secondary objective of catching fish for domestic consumption but not for onward sale”. However, there was no formal definition that could be adopted for SSF. The NPOA-SSF therefore presents a definition. Recognizing that Namibia’s SSF sector (like the rest of the world) is not homogenous, and taking into consideration the above-mentioned consultative process, the small-scale fisheries sector is defined as follows: Definition of Small-Scale Fisheries in Namibia Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector consists of small-scale fishers who are defined as women, men (and sometimes children*) who make use of various fishing methods (e.g., canoes, small fishing vessels) on a daily or regular basis, catch fish as a source of income, for own consumption or livelihoods for most parts of the year and sale of surplus but within weight limits or number of fish**. Fishing includes fishing activities that are undertaken along the entire value chain, including pre harvest (gear mending, boat mending etc.), during harvest (the catch process of fish) and post-harvest (fish processing, marketing, and selling of fish etc.) in both marine and inland waters. * In the context of the NPOA-SSF the involvement of children refers to young children who accompany their parents on fishing trips to fulfil generational practices that include skills and information transfer regarding traditional fishing practices, as well as knowledge and methods which equips them for their future as fisherwomen and men. ** The MFMR is in the process of determining catch and limit sizes for formalisation at the policy and regulatory levels. During the process of characterizing small-scale fisheries, it is noted that men are predominantly operating in the harvesting (production) and vending sectors whereas women are predominantly operating in the marketing and value addition sector. In some instances, women and children also participate in the production sector – with the latter being observed in the Kavango East and West Regions. 12 Characterization of Small-Scale Fisheries in Namibia “Not all Small-Scale Fishers in Namibia are currently well organised (with very few exceptions), however, generally SSF are characterized by low capitalization levels, performed by fishers that operate at different organizational levels, ranging from self-employed single operators to informal micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to formal sector businesses. SSF use the entire or part of the catch as a food for household consumption; and or trade the surplus to supplement livelihood income. SSF make use of dug-out canoes, ski-boats, nets, hook and line or small, and other traditional gear and fishing vessels gear to fish. Fishing is predominantly undertaken by male fishers, where after the catch is primarily sold by women who process or semi-process it before trading it across formal and informal markets. Fish is sold domestically or across borders and value addition can be present or absent. Coastal SSF are further contextualised through a vessel size (Maximum 25tons) which is significantly smaller than that of the Large-Scale Fisheries (LSF) sector” In characterizing Namibia’s SSF sub sector, it was observed that Namibia’s SSF sector, though small, is vibrant and shares various attributes with global small-scale fisheries as follows: Namibia’s SSF sub-sector shares various attributes which are global in scope as follows10: Socially excluded sector in terms of recognition and benefits Household enterprises that pursue livelihoods from SSF, where women and children can play a significant role in terms of food and nutrition security Fishing is normally done close to their homes SSF can take the risk of venturing further from home, deeper water, and distant shores in pursuit of migratory species Co-sharing arrangements for gear, nets, and operational unit structures Use small craft and simple gear (though not necessarily simple techniques) Low capital investment and low-energy intensity of their operations Skill’s-intensive fishing operations SSF exhibit spatially dispersed settlement patterns Resources fished are largely in spatially open access regimes that may exhibit customary rights Local processing, normally under-developed Women are an important part of the up and downstream, production, processing, and marketing activities Fishing may be part time, seasonal or integrated with other farming activities 6.2 Geographical scope and location Small-scale fishers have been observed in all 14 Regions across the country and the sub-sector is characterized into inland small-scale fisheries and coastal small-scale fisheries. 6.2.1 Inland SSF Inland SSF are primarily located along the major rivers - Kunene in the North-Western Regions; Kavango River in the North Central Regions; Zambezi and Chobe Rivers in the North-Eastern Regions; Orange River in the South as well as in lakes and Iishana spanning the Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Omusati Regions. In the Central and Southern Regions, the Swakoppoort, Von Bach, Naute and Hardap Dams, and the Orange River provide small-scale fishers with a subsistence livelihood. Some dams, such as the Swakoppoort, Goreangab and Von-Bach serve multiple functions of being recreational dams, potable water supply and also fulfil a conservation purpose. Of recent, one Namibia’s largest dams, the Neckartal dam, which was completed in 2020 filled with water for the first time since its completion. In line with supporting small-scale fisheries development, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has initiated the process of assessing the potential of developing fisheries and aquaculture on the Neckartal Dam. The dam is located 40km west of Keetmanshoop, in the Berseba Constituency, Karas region, in the southern part of Namibia. It is the largest water storage dam in Namibia and is expected to irrigate 5,000 hectares of land in the arid, desert region of Namibia, promoting agriculture and related employment. The dam’s water flows originate from the 650km long Fish River, (which normally only flows between January and May each year from the Naukluft Mountains). The Fish River flows over a distance of 150km 10 Adapted from Cochrane, K.L and Garcia M.S (2009). A fishery manager’s handbook. P405. 13 to the Hardap Dam near Mariental. From there, water flows to the Neckartal dam which stretches 38km upstream. The dam is 78.5m high and 518m long, stretched over 25km on the Fish River in direction of Lüderitz. By using the waters from the nearby rivers, it has a storage volume of 857 million m3 of water. Case Example: Developing the potential for small-scale fisheries at the Neckartal Dam, //Karas Region In 2020, the MFMR in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation and supported by a Technical Task Team11 launched the Neckartal Dam Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Project (“the Research Project”), a first of its kind aimed at “assessing the development potential of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture on Neckartal Dam in the //Karas Region, Namibia” with a view to supporting sustainable fisheries utilization and management. The project is collecting baseline information through a series of fisheries biological sampling surveys being undertaken by the MFMR technical team. To date, the technical team has caught and sampled a total of nine (9) species at Neckartal Dam as follows: 1. Labeo capensis (mudfish) 2. Labeo umbratus, (moggel) 3. Barbus kimberlensis, (Largemouth yellow fish) 4. Barbus aeneus, (Small mouth yellow fish) 5. Oreochromis mossambicus, (Mossambique tilapia) 6. Clarias gariepinus, (Africa sharptooth catfish) 7. Cyprinus carpio, (Common carp) 8. Barbus paludinosis, (Top minnow) 9. Potamonautes perlatus (freshwater crab) 10. Tilapia sparmanii (Banded tilapia) The fish were diverse in terms of size ranging from very small to extremely large fish. Taking into consideration that the dam filled to capacity in a very short time period, the research team assumed that most of the larger fish (over 500g) may have migrated from the Fish River directly to the Neckartal Dam. There was a presence of various species of juvenile fish, an early indication of breeding and recruitment into the fish population of the dam, and that different species have found their ecological habitats and have become established in the dam. The Neckartal Dam is significant for small-scale fisheries because upstream, the Sneifontein community now have a “new” source where they can harvest fish as a food, nutrition and as a livelihood option. Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development at the Neckartal dam is aligned with the National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF’s) objectives, particularly in the context of poverty alleviation, food, and nutrition security. 6.2.2 Coastal SSF Coastal SSF are predominantly located in the Erongo and southern //Karas Regions, in major coastal fishing towns such as Walvis Bay, Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Lüderitz. Coastal small-scale fishers fall into various categories including shellfish collection in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Luderitz (an activity which is predominantly undertaken by women); the line fishery in Henties Bay and Luderitz, and the mullet and Rock lobster fisheries in Luderitz. Table 2 below provides a summary of the most predominant catches for coastal SSF. 11 The Neckartal Dam Technical Task Team comprises members of various organisations including Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources; NAMWATER; NAMA Traditional Leader’s Association; //Karas Regional Council; Keetmanshoop Municipality; Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Land Reform; Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Land Reform; Ministry of Environment, Forestry &Tourism and the Food and Agriculture Organisation 14 Figure 1: Neckartal Dam, the largest constructed storage dam in Namibia is a potential livelihood support system for a small-scale fisheries sector in the //Karas Region. It maintains water flowing in from the Fish and Kameel Rivers and has a storage volume of 857 million m3 of water. Figure 2: Hon Aletha Fredricks, //Karas Regional Governor together with the MFMR, FAO and the MAWLR conducted the first fisheries research survey on the Neckartal Dam in October 2021. Biological research sampling by the Hardap MFMR Team is central to securing scientific data to support policy action for small-scale fisheries in the //Karas Region 15 Figure 3: Namibia’s Ski-Boat fisheries – it is a Small-Scale Fishery or Large-Scale Fishery? Namibia’s Ski Boat fishery can be classified as a small-scale fishery in line with the NPOA-SSF definition. The extent to which access to the fishery can be optimized to create meaningful employment for a larger number of Namibians formed part of the debate during the stakeholder consultations for the NPOA-SSF. It is expected that further policy and regulatory action will realise optimal benefits towards a more inclusive line fishery with broad based equitable benefits. 6.3 Primary species and Ecosystems The development process of the NPOA-SSF, has determined four (4) primary ecosystems clusters for further research consideration. These clusters present a good option for developing management approaches that are adapted to the characteristics of the SSF actors within each of the ecosystems. Table 1: Primary species and ecosystems utilized by inland and coastal small-scale fishers Sub Sector Cluster / Regional Ecosystem Regions Description Primary commercial Species and small-sized fish Inland Small-Scale Fisheries North-Western Regions Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto and Ohangwena Regions SSF predominantly utilize oshanas (seasonal floodplain areas); the Calueque canal and natural lakes and dams (e.g., Oponono, Olushandja). In some areas, sand mining pits have filled up with water and fish and present SSF opportunities. • Oreochromis andersonii (Three spot tilapia) • Coptodon rendalli • Clarias garipienus (African sharptooth catfish) • Small-sized fish species 16 North-Eastern Regions Kavango East & West and Zambezi Regions SSF predominantly utilize shared, transboundary rivers; floodplains and natural lakes (Kavango River Zambezi River Linyanti / Chobe System Lake Liambezi) Kavango East & West • Oreochromis andersonii (Three spot tilapia) • Coptodon rendalli (Red Breast Tilapia) Zambezi Floodplain fisheries, primary SSF species caught include • Three spot tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii) • Red Breast Tilapia (Coptodon rendalli) • Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) • Cichlidae, Cyprinidae and Characidae spp. • Catfish spp • Seranochromis spp • Oreochromis macrochir • Catfish (Clarias garipienus) • Small-sized fish spp. Lake Liambezi fisheries • Three spot tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii) • Red Breast Tilapia (Coptodon rendalli) Southern & Central Regions //Karas; Khomas, Hardap & Southern Otjozondjupa Regions Predominantly SSF utilizing inland fisheries resources in state or communal dams Primary catches • Oreochromis mossambicus • Catfish (Clarias garipienus) • Mud Fish (Labeo capensus) • Moggel (Labeo. Umbratus) • Carp spp (Cyprinus carpio) spp Coastal Small-Scale Fisheries Coastal North and South Erongo and //Karas Regions Predominantly coastal SSF utilizing marine resources (Henties Bay, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz) Walvis Bay • Shellfish collectors • Seaweed harvesting Henties Bay Line fishery • Kabeljou (Argyrosomus japonicus) • Galjoen (Dichistius capensis) • Steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus) • Kolstert/black tail or dassie (Diplodus sargus) • Sea Catfish (Sea Barbel) • Lüderitz Rock lobster fishery • Rock lobster (Jasus lalandii) Lüderitz Line fishery • Snoek • Mullets • Kabeljou (Argyrosomus japonicus) • Steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus). • Elf or shad (Pomatomus saltatrix) Lüderitz marine capture & recreation fisheries • Mullet (Mugilidae) • Rock Lobster (Jasus lalandii) Others: • Limpets & mussels • Seaweed harvesting 6.4 Scale of the SSF Sector It is conservatively estimated that Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sub-sector directly supports the livelihoods of over 280,000 Namibians, making up approximately 11% of the country’s total population3. Livelihood’s support is in the form of income, employment, socio-economic benefits, food, and nutrition security. Direct support in terms of self, seasonal or paid employment is estimated at 46,500 of which 17 45,000 are small-scale fishers in the inland fisheries sector and 1,500 fishers3 are in the coastal small scale fisheries sector. These estimations are based on the number of small-scale fishers participating in the complex network of operations across the small-scale fisheries value chain and is inclusive of fisherwomen and men; fish traders, vendors; members of small-scale fisheries organisations and associations; community-based organisations and fisheries dependent communities. 6.5 Status of small-scale fisheries organisations Namibia has very few established, recognized small-scale fisheries organisations. Improving the organisation of SSF will support the “complex range and organisation of daily activities amongst small scale fisherfolk offering an opportunity to work and get material reward (money or fish). Some fishers may participate in the production sector, while others may simply rent their gear or boats to other fisherfolk. On landing the harvest, other members in the community become involved: pulling in the boats; unloading the fish; carrying the fish to the areas where division of catches and/or selling takes place. This division of activities happens according to previous agreements amongst the various role players and is linked to the quantity of fish caught and the surplus available, after keeping aside for household consumption12”. Early attempts in the Zambezi Region have resulted in the MFMR supporting the establishment of an Inland Fisheries Committee. Fishmongers proposed for the formation of an Inland fisheries committee to oversee all fishing related matters in the region. Among other support functions, the committee aims to improve the sustainable utilisation of the fishery resources, information dissemination, and assist with marketing of fish to minimise the observed ongoing conflicts with neighbouring countries. Table 3 provides information on the current status of SSFO in Namibia. Table 2: Status of Small-Scale Fisheries Organisations (SSFO) in Namibia Sub Sector Cluster / Regional Ecosystem Regional Cluster Region / Locality Small-Scale Fisheries Organisation / Initiative *Membership Inland Small-Scale Fisheries North-Western Regions Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto and Ohangwena Regions Oshana Region Oshana Integrated Youth Organisation 66 members North-Eastern Regions Kavango East & West and Zambezi Regions Zambezi Region Inland Fisheries Committee (IFC) Eleven (11) Fisheries Reserve Committees (FRC)13 Establishing (estimated 200 members) Established and gazetted Southern & Central Regions //Karas; Khomas, Hardap & Southern Otjozondjupa Regions n/a Snyfontein Fishing Community 120 members Coastal Small-Scale Fisheries Coastal North and South Erongo and //Karas Regions Erongo Region Henties Bay Hanganeni Artisanal Fisheries Organisation (HAFA) 140 members Erongo Region Namibia Shore Angling Association (NSAA) 410 6 – 40 part time and full time jobs Erongo Region Swakopmund Benguela Ski Boat Association (BSBFS) 35 (vessels) 45 members 140 direct jobs Erongo Region Swakopmund Centre for Marine Environmental Education and Sustainability (CEMEES) Trust 8 //Karas Region, Luderitz Namibian Women’s Fisheries Network (NAMFISHNET) 60 *Establishment status and membership and employment information was obtained directly from the associations and key stakeholders during the stakeholder consultations held in 2021. 12 BCC. 2011. Human Dimensions of small-scale fisheries in the BCLM region: An overview. 13 The extent to which Fisheries Reserves Committees are organized in the context of the SSF Guidelines requires further research and investigation. 18 A stakeholder mapping exercise was undertaken to identify and map key small-scale fisheries stakeholders’ groups. The outcomes of the mapping exercise are presented below. Table 3: Key small-scale fisheries stakeholders Key Stakeholders Description Governments (traditional, local, regional authorities and central government) Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) State-Owned Enterprises - Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) Small scale fishers Fishers involved in the production, processing and marketing of fish caught in the small-scale fisheries sector across all identified ecosystems, including inland and coastal SSF. Fishery dependent communities - Fisheries dependent communities as identified across Namibia’s 14 regions, including inland and coastal SSF Local, regional, and international SSF organizations Hanganeni Artisanal Fishing Association (HAFA); Benguela Ski-Boat Association (BSA) NAMFISHNET AWFISHNET Tertiary and Research Institutions, SORs University of Namibia (UNAM); International University of Management (IUM) National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) Conservation groups Namibia Chamber of Environment (NCE) Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) Community Based Natural Resources Management Groups (CBNRM) and have a responsibility to promote sustainable fish / aquatic environmental management approaches Regional bodies Committees and Regional organisations including Okacom, KAZA, SADC and Cuvelai, Kavango/Okavango/Cubango Drainage systems committees provide platforms for engaging within and on fisheries and aquaculture Development partners Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Benguela Current Convention (BCC), Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME); GIZ; EU; NORAD SIDA Private sector Fishing industry Service providers of nets, fishing gear, fishing tackle, boats, engines, and other fishing equipment provide value chain support services and can be engaged to provide appropriate equipment for the sector. 7. SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES STAKEHOLDERS 19 Figure 4: Stakeholder consultations across the 14 Regions of Namibia were a cornerstone of the development process for the NPOA-SSF. Small-scale fisherwomen and men, local authorities, traditional authorities and key SSF actors provided their input to the development process. 20 7.1 Guidelines for establishing small-scale fisheries organisations To support the short-term implementation plan for the NPOA-SSF, Namibia is developing Guidelines for establishing small-scale fisheries organisations (SSFO Guidelines). These guidelines will present a process flow to guide small-scale fishers and key stakeholders on the best approaches for community level engagement, empowerment and capacity development and highlight possible risks that can emerge if the process is not carried out in line with the established protocols. Key establishment risks and mitigating options for reducing potential conflicts during the engagement and establishment process will be outlined. A SWOT survey was undertaken to identify factors that can contribute to strengthening and empowering SSFOs and to develop the best approach and alternatives for their financial viability and sustainability. Table 4: Results from the 2021 SWOT Survey on best practice approaches for establishing SSFO A summary of results from the 2021 SWOT Survey on best practice approaches for establishing SSFO 1. SSFO should be established at the local level 2. The objectives and principles of the SSFO should be established through a Constitution 3. The minimum number of members in a SSFO should be 10 4. No maximum number of members for an SSFO was proposed, instead, best practice community governance approaches were deemed critical 5. Where fish stocks are depleting, sustainable adaptation action for SSF to be supported 6. The top four (4) empowerment methods for SSFO include  Promote training and capacity development  Build gender and youth mainstreaming inclusion strategies  Improve information and communication channels  Innovation in cooperation and coordination mechanisms 7. Top four (4) approaches to building strong SSFOs include  Government support  Local authority participation in establishment process  Local private sector participation and support  Good establishment guidelines 8. Top four (4) approaches to establish sustainable SSFO  Good governance Structure  Short-medium- & long-term outcome-based Action Plans  Establish linkages to funding streams  Membership fees 7.2 Sub-Programme in Support of SSF and SSFO Early wins in leveraging implementation support for SSFO are already visible. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has commenced with implementation of a Sub-Programme in support of Small Scale Fisheries Organisations and Capacity Development (SSFO & CD) (Table 5). Table 5: The NPOA-SSF Sub-Programme supporting Small-Scale Fisheries Organisation and Capacity Development Sub-Programme: Support to Strengthening Small-Scale Fisheries Organisations and Capacity Development (SSFO & CD) As part of the development process for the NPOA-SSF, a need was observed to develop and design strategies and plans that are relevant to coastal and inland small scale fishing communities. The strategies and plans should be informed by local knowledge and skills of local fishing communities, and should culminate into short, medium, and long-term development options and strategies. 21 As part of the development process for the NPOA-SSF, a need was observed to develop and design strategies and plans that are relevant to coastal and inland small scale fishing communities. The strategies and plans should be informed by local knowledge and skills of local fishing communities, and should culminate into short, medium, and long-term development options and strategies. The Support to Strengthen Small Scale Fisheries Organisations and Capacity Development (SSFO & CD) “the project” is aimed at supporting activities that stem from the NPOA-SSF development process including alignment activities for the development of Namibia’s SSFO across four (4) primary outputs: Output 1: Support to establishment of SSFO structures in various regions across Namibia, and to integrate SSFO considerations into policies, plans and programmes through opportunities being presented by the NPOA-SSF development process Output 2: Support and strengthen SSFO to align with and participate in ongoing national and regional activities targeted at supporting and uplifting SSFO (e.g., NPOA-SSF; SSF-GSF Advisory Group and IPC working Group on Fisheries; International Year of Artisanal Fisheries (IYAFA) 2022). Output 3: Support and strengthen the role of women and youth in SSFO; mainstream gender and youth in SSFO strategies, plans and programmes. Output 4: Provide Capacity Development support to SSFO, enabling improved representation in decision-making and policy processes and to enhance their livelihoods. 7.3 Gender dimensions in Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector Gender roles in small-scale fisheries are visible in that men primarily set nets, catch fish, spend the night at the lake or riverside or travel early hours in the morning to retrieve their catch. Women on the other hand play an increasingly important role in Namibia’s SSF sector, since they catch fish to feed their households, process leftover catch primarily through drying and store it for future use as food, or sell fresh, frozen, and dried fish to derive an income to support alternative livelihood activities such as purchasing basic food items, buying clothing, and paying for their children’s education. Figure 5: A woman fish vendor at the Katima Mulilo Market sells fresh fish that she carried, on ice from her supplier at the river. Fish is sold at between N$ 35 – N$45 per kg depending on the season and the demand. 22 Gender equality and promoting women’s empowerment is a central principle in the NPOA-SSF which recognizes gender mainstreaming as an integral component of the small-scale fisheries development strategy for Namibia. Achieving equal rights for all individuals, regardless of their gender is a goal in itself as demonstrated through SDG 5: Achieve gender equity and empower all women and girls. Achieving gender equity is a driver to attain food and nutrition security, reduce poverty and create meaningful employment in Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector. Outcomes of the stakeholder consultations called for gender equality considerations as follows:  Reducing gender-based violence and discrimination within SSF communities;  Recognizing women fishers and increasing equal employment opportunities for all in the SSF sector;  Providing gender transformative training to women and youth communities on fishing methods, fish processing;  Supporting women fishers by providing them with start-up funding particularly to support marketing and post-harvest issues (processing, packaging, and preservation)  Supporting linkages and access to sustainable markets In terms of social protection, observations were consistent with the SSF guidelines in that women often have unequal access to productive and energy efficient resources, assets, technology, finance, and services such as education, water, and health. Unequal power relations often exist between different actors along the value chain, and as a result, women can be vulnerable to disadvantageous contracts, and unfair conditions and practices with regard to access to raw materials and market access. The compound effect is that women have limited influence over decisions that are critical to their livelihoods and to the way they contribute to food security, nutrition, and sustainable food systems. They are also particularly vulnerable to impacts of climate change and natural disasters.14 Figure 6: A majority of the catfish sold and traded at the Katima Mulilo market is dried. It is estimated that 70 – 80% of the dried catfish is sold to local markets in north-western Namibia where dried catfish is considered a delicacy. In support of women’s empowerment, in the SSF sector, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has commenced with implementation of a sub-programme to support implementation of the SSF Guidelines with a particular focus on women in the post-harvest sub-sector. 14 FAO.2020. Climate Change and Gender. Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines for gender equitable and climate resilient food systems and livelihoods. NPOA-SSF Sub programme. 23 7.4 Sub-Programme in Support of SSF and SSFO Table 6: The NPOA-SSF Sub-Programme supporting Climate Change and Gender Sub-Programme: Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines for gender equitable and climate resilient food systems and livelihoods The focus of the subprogramme will be to support small-scale fisheries and the implementation of the SSF Guidelines with a particular focus on women, particularly in the post-harvest sector The Sub-programme will work to empower small-scale fisheries communities with a view to contribute to more sustainable and climate resilient livelihoods and food systems. It will use an innovative approach to transformative change combining the communication of evidence-based information on the contribution of fish and small-scale fisheries – the post-harvest sector and women actors – to livelihoods and food security and nutrition with capacity building and promotion of best practices, including climate smart solutions and technologies, in particular in the postharvest sector. It will address critical gaps regarding working conditions, fish loss and waste, poor and lacking infrastructures, deficient social protection systems, insecure access to fish/fishery resources, the need for improved nutrition, among school children, and work to strengthen small-scale fisheries and women representation in decision-making processes. Accordingly, major beneficiary groups will include small-scale fisheries actors, men and women, and their organizations in marine and inland small-scale fisheries, their families, and communities – including school children who will benefit from school feeding programmes. The sub programme is expected to achieve four primary outputs as follows: Output 1: Strengthen the role of women and youth in the small-scale fisheries post-harvest sector Output 2: Develop gender & youth mainstreaming strategies to foster gender and youth inclusion Output 3: Support climate resilience and adaptation planning strategies for inland and coastal SSFO Output 4: Support enhanced capacity for women led SSFO 24 Historically, the contribution and value of Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector has not been estimated and has been considered hidden and unreported. It has now been established that small-scale fisheries are significant and contribute to the local and national economies. It is conservatively estimated that inland small-scale fisheries has the potential to contribute N$230 million (or more) to local and national accounts. Directly, the sub-sector provides self, seasonal or paid employment for 45,000 fishers and indirectly supports the livelihoods of over 280,000 Namibians. Coastal small-scale fisheries is estimated to contribute N$ 27.6 million to local and national accounts, directly, the sub-sector provides self, seasonal or paid employment to 1,500 fishers and supports the livelihoods of over 9,500 Namibians. Livelihoods support is in the form of income, socio-economic benefits, food, and nutrition security. Historic research focus for inland and coast SSF has been on the fisheries resource; fish stock abundance; transboundary fisheries management; fisheries co-management; fisheries improvement projects and of recent fisheries protection areas and reserves. These fisheries-specific initiatives are invited to become interlinked into small-scale fisheries strategies that consider the human dimensions of SSF, including the social, cultural, and economic variables which are primary determinants of food insecurity and poverty alleviation. Small-scale fishers have therefore not been the focus of research and development support, however despite this, judging by their estimated value and contribution, it is clear that they have developed a certain level of internal resilience to shocks and crises, and have continued make meaningful socio-economic contributions to improving livelihoods, food security and poverty alleviation within their fishing communities nationally. There are various scenarios that limit the ability for SSF to achieve and realise their contribution potential. Some of these are resource constraints; conflicts between multiple users; policies, institutions, and processes as well as management regimes. For coastal SSF, access and control are often linked with and in competition with Large Scale Fisheries (LSF). The NPOA-SSF advocates for implementation of strategies for increasing the contribution of SSF and for continued monitoring of impacts across established, key socio economic indicators. Measuring the contribution of small-scale fisheries is not easy due to their diverse and dispersed nature, however, the NPOA-SSF presents preliminary findings on the contribution, impacts and drivers of Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector. Though rudimentary, these findings can be used as a baseline for future research and work. Table 7: A preliminary estimate of the value of Namibia’s SSF sector Sub Sector Cluster / Regional Ecosystem Regions Estimated production / yield* Estimated value (N$) ** Direct Employment Inland Small Scale Fisheries North-Western Regions Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto and Ohangwena Regions Iishana9 (efundja15 resources): 1000 – 1500 tonnes per annum Not known 1,000 North-Eastern Regions Kavango East & West and Zambezi Regions Zambezi / Chobe: 5000 – 6,700mt16 / annum Kavango E&W: 1000 – 2000 mt per annum N$ 147 – 167 million N$ 60 million 28,000 Southern & Central Regions //Karas; Khomas, Hardap & Southern Otjozondjupa Regions South: 100 Mt per annum1717 Central: 25 Mt per annum N$ 2,4 million N$ 600,000 16,000 Total estimates for Inland SSF 6,125 mt/annum N$ 230 million 45,000 15 Efundja is the Oshiwambo name for 16 Simasiku et al. 2018. Fish Processing and Exports on the Zambezi/Chobe Floodplain, Zambezi Region, Namibia 17 MFMR. 2021. Personal communication (Hardap Inland Aquaculture Center) 8. THE VALUE OF NAMIBIA’S SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES SECTOR 25 Sub Sector Cluster / Regional Ecosystem Regions Estimated production / yield* Estimated value (N$) ** Direct Employment Coastal Small Scale Fisheries Coastal North and South Small Scale Fishers (mostly Henties Bay, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Luderitz)18 Currently being estimated by MFMR Currently estimated within National statistics and not disaggregated 1,300 HAFA19 300 mt/annum N$ 2,6 million (annually) 100 fishers (15 persons (part time, commission based) Ski Boat Association Currently being estimated by MFMR Estimated at N$25 million (quantification in progress) 140 Total estimates for coastal SSF N$ 27,6 million 1,500 *Yield and **value estimates were provided by MFMR staff and key SSF actors during the 2020 Regional stakeholder consultations and are conservative estimates. An average value of N$24,000 to N$ 32,000 per tonne was advised. Additional research is required to improve on and quantify these preliminary estimates. 8.1 Socio-Economic Significance The contribution of small-scale fisheries to Global and African food production systems is well known and documented, however, the value of the contribution of Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector to food and nutrition security, livelihoods and employment is not well known or well documented. Namibia’s SSF sector has benefited from a disproportionately low investment in management, research, and support – thus rendering the sector vulnerable across various determinants of poverty (e.g., food and nutrition security and livelihoods). For many years, Namibia, like many developing countries, did not recognize the livelihood value of the coastal and inland fisheries sub-sectors that might accrue in terms of food and health security, a sense of wellbeing, vulnerability, and resilience etc.20 This lack of information resulted in an under-estimation of the socio-economic value of the sub-sector, a situation which the NPOA-SSF is positioned to change. Despite this information gap, information gained through the regional stakeholder consultations estimates that small-scale fisheries is a significant contributor to self, seasonal and paid employment and to livelihoods of small-scale fishers nationally (Table 8). Table 8: Socio economic contribution of small-scale fisheries (directly & indirectly) to livelihoods Sub Sector Cluster / Regional Ecosystem Regions Direct Employment Estimated livelihoods supported (directly) Inland Small Scale Fisheries North-Western Regions Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto and Ohangwena Regions 1,000 48,000 North-Eastern Regions Kavango East & West and Zambezi Regions 28,000 160,000 Southern & Central Regions //Karas; Khomas, Hardap & Southern Otjozondjupa Regions 16,000 62,500 Coastal Small Scale Fisheries Coastal North and South Erongo and //Karas Regions 1,500 9,500 Direct, self, seasonal or paid employment in the SSF sector 46,500 Support to livelihoods (income, socio-economic benefits, food and nutrition security) 280,000 18 BCLME/BCC Project: Support for Artisanal Fishers. Baseline survey on SSF along the Erongo Coast, 2021. 19 HAFA.2021. Personal communication. 20 Bene, C. 2006. Small-scale fisheries: assessing their contribution to rural livelihoods in developing countries. FAO Fisheries Circular. No. 1008. Rome, FAO. 2006. 46p. 26 The specific contribution of Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector to local, social, economic, and national development, employment and food and nutrition security requires continued socio-economic assessments, which is supported as part of the NPOA-SSF strategies. Some key indicators required to complete a socio-economic assessment for the SSF sector are indicated below:21 Table 9: Key indicators required to determine the contribution and value of Namibia’s SSF sector Key indicators required to determine the contribution and value of Namibia’s SSF sub sectors: 1. Framework for assessment and measurement of SSF socio-economic value and contribution 2. Quantification of SSF resources in terms of food production and nutrition security 3. Quantification of SSF resources in terms of employment and economic contribution 4. Values of losses as a result of impacts, drivers, and poor management 5. Potential replacement cost of the lost value (e.g., resources, labour etc.) 6. Determine improved management approaches for SSF and other water use sectors 8.1.1 Knowledge gap in SSF socio-economic data Knowledge gaps in the preliminary SSF yield and value estimates renew a call to invest in research that can generate knowledge and improve data and information on the value and contribution of Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector to socio-economic development. This information can be used to drive key policy considerations to support, secure, and maintain the contribution of the small-scale fisheries sub sector to the local and national economy. In recognizing the knowledge gap in socio-economic data, useful principles, approaches, and methodologies are presented below: Table 10: Recognizing the knowledge gap in socio-economic data for SSF – principles, approaches, and methodologies for consideration Recognizing the knowledge gap in socio-economic data for SSF – principles, approaches, and methodologies for consideration Research on the value and contribution of SSF to local and national accounts can consider available approaches and methodologies that have been developed through rigorous consultation processes as follows: i. Article 6.8 of the FAO Code of Conduct for responsible fisheries makes specific reference to SSF and their role as providers of food, employment, and income: Art. 6.18 Recognizing the important contributions of artisanal and small-scale fisheries to employment, income, and food security, States should appropriately protect the rights of fishers and fish workers, particularly those engaged in subsistence, small-scale and artisanal fisheries, to secure a just livelihood, as well as preferential access, where appropriate, to traditional fishing grounds and resources in the water under national jurisdiction. ii. The FAO’s Advisory Committee on Fishery Research Working Group proposed a vision for small scale fisheries as one where: • Small-scale fisheries are not marginalized and their contribution to national economies and food security is recognized, valued, and enhanced. • Fishers, fish-workers, and other stakeholder can participate in decision-making, are empowered to do so, and have increased capability and human capacity; thereby achieving dignity and respect; and 21 Adapted from FAO. 2017. Improving our knowledge on small-scale fisheries: data needs and methodologies. Workshop Proceedings. 27 • Poverty and food insecurity do not persist; and where the social, economic, and ecological systems are managed in an integrated and sustainable manner, thereby reducing conflict. iii. The global World Bank study on Hidden Harvests; the Blue Justice drive; the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries (IYAFA 2022), the Too Big To Ignore Network and other emerging international initiatives are keen on supporting and realising unlocking the value of SSF. There is value in establishing collaborative partnerships with these key actors. Small fish are increasingly being recognized as a vital source of micro-nutrients. Improved knowledge on small fish nutrition can inform policy options for managing small fisheries. Current proposed management measures (closed season) aimed at protecting the juveniles of larger fish may be misguided for small fisheries in some areas. 8.1.2 Global recognition of small-scale fisheries Globally, SSF are increasingly recognized as a complex and significant sector and dynamic handles such as “too big to ignore” and “too important to fail” that are attributed to SSF best describe the sector’s socio-economic potential in a succinct manner. It is globally recognized that the rich diversity in value of SSF, some of which cannot be quantified, results in an under-appreciation of the SSF sector. This can have significant consequences for social safety nets for fisheries dependent communities. Recent global trends are supporting small-scale fisheries are also becoming mainstreamed within ecosystem services, providing recreational angling and fishing village experiences to both national and international tourists frequenting fishing villages and consuming the local catch, which is normally a delicacy. Ecosystem services: A case of the Zambezi & Kavango Breams Zambezi Bream and Kavango Bream are local freshwater fish that have grown in popularity as the tastiest river fish in Namibia. Currently trading at anywhere between N$ 60 – 80/kg. The significance of the Zambezi Bream is demonstrated through the “Zambezi Bream and Cultural Expo” an annual expo which takes place in the Zambezi Regionand is aimed at supporting socio-economic and enterprise development. There is tremendous potential to position the Zambezi and Kavango Breams at the centre of ecosystem service development plans for the benefit of small-scale fishing communities in both regions. Too Big to Ignore (TBTI) Network TBTI is a new research network and knowledge mobilization partnership established to elevate the profile of small-scale fisheries (SSF), to argue against their marginalization in national and international policies, and to develop research and governance capacity to address global fisheries challenges. TBTI comprises 15 partners, 62 researchers from 27 countries, conducting activities in five regions of the world. 28 Whether in Namibia or elsewhere on the continent, development practitioners across various sectors work hand-in-hand with the local communities, however, in most instances, the contribution by these communities in terms of their Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is not adequately captured or acknowledged. The SSF Guidelines (Article 11.4) recognize that small-scale fishing communities (SSFC) are holders, providers and receivers of knowledge and the importance of empowering SSFC and SSFO with appropriate information to help them to cope with existing problems and to empower them to improve their livelihoods. Article 11.6 articulates the importance of recognizing and supporting indigenous knowledge (particularly that of women fishers) to inform responsible local governance and sustainable development processes. A key output (1.2) of the NPOA-SSF is to enhance governance for inland and coastal small-scale fisheries organisations and small-scale fishing communities in order to empower them to develop and establish appropriate community governance approaches. 9. POSITIONING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IN SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 28 29 A legal review was undertaken to assess the degree of alignment of Namibia’s national fisheries laws and policies with the SSF Guidelines with a view to providing evidence-based policy actions to support the implementation of the NPOA-SSF. Below is an excerpt from the legislative review: The legal review assisted in defining and contextualising “who is a small-scale fisher” and as articulated in the SSF Guidelines: “…given the diversity of the characteristics of small-scale fisheries around the world, there is no consensus on a single, global definition of “small-scale fisheries” or “small-scale fisher”. The legislative review proposes that The term “small-scale fisheries” include subsistence fisheries, artisanal fisheries, customary or aboriginal fisheries, and commercial fisheries of a small-scale nature, whether in inland waters or at sea, involving the full range of activities along the entire supply and value chain in accordance with national definitions, when they exist, or according to the prevailing common understanding of the meaning of “small-scale fisheries” in a given community or locality. “Small-scale fisher” and “small scale fish worker”, therefore, refer to any person who is engaged in or in support of any of the small scale fisheries as described above. The SSF Guidelines stipulate in paragraph 4.1 that they should be interpreted and applied consistent with existing rights and obligations under national and international law and with due regard to voluntary commitments under applicable regional and international instruments. The most important international law instruments which Namibia is a party to, and which are relevant to sustainable small-scale fisheries are: Table 11: Summary of key international laws and instruments, relevant to sustainable SSF to which Namibia is a party Lead Policy / Legal instrument United Nations • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992) • United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (xxx) • United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (1982) • United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) (1995) • United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Food & Agriculture Organisation • FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (2015) • FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (2005) Other international • International Labour Organisation’s Work in Fishing Convention 188 of 2007 • Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Continental • African Charter for Human and People’s Rights SADC • SADC Protocol on Fisheries (Article 12) • SADC action plan to domesticate the SSF Guidelines (draft) Regional • Benguela Current Convention 10. SSF GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK 30 10.1 National Legal Framework for small-scale fisheries Translation of Government’s vision for the Inland and Coastal Fisheries sectors is currently actioned through legislative instruments, plans and programmes governing Inland Fisheries, Aquaculture, Marine Resources and Ocean Governance. The SSF Guidelines served as a primary instrument and resource which framed the NPOA-SSF development process. Complementary frameworks include the guidelines for establishing Fisheries Protected Areas / Reserves for community management of fisheries resources. In line with the FAO’s SSF Policy and Legal Diagnostic Tool22, the NPOA legal review undertook an assessment against the following: Identification of national fisheries policy and legal frameworks relevant to SSF in a country. Identification of international legal instruments relevant for SSF, to which Namibia has signed, ratified, or adhered to, and other international guidance relevant for SSF. Assessment of the coherence between national fisheries policies with other issues identified in the SSF Guidelines. Conducted a preliminary gap assessment of selected national fisheries policy and legal instruments vis-à-vis the SSF Guidelines requirements. It was found that Namibia has an overall legal framework that allows for the implementation of a sustainable small-scale fisheries programme (such as the NPOA-SSF).23 A summary of key national level policy instruments relating directly to the mandate of the MFMR are presented below and the legal review unpacks each of these instruments in terms of their alignment to the small-scale fisheries sector. Table 12: Namibia’s National legal framework is enabling in terms of SSF development Lead Sub Sector Key Policy instruments Government of Namibia (GRN) • Namibian Constitution (Article 95) • Environmental Management Act of 2007 Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources (MFMR) Coastal fisheries • Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone of Namibia Act (no.3 of 1990) • Marine Resources Act (no. 27 of 2000) • Marine Resources Regulations (2001, as amended) • Blue Economy Policy (draft) of 2021 • Policy Statement (Guidelines) for granting rights to harvest Marine Resources (of 2013) • Regulations related to Marine Protected Areas (2000) Inland fisheries • Inland Fisheries Resources act (of 2003) • Inland Fisheries Resources Regulations (of 2003) • Regulations for harvesting marine resources (2018) • Policy Statement (Guidelines) for Granting Rights to Harvest Marine Resources (2018) • Gazette notices for establishing Fisheries Protected Areas (fish reserves) • White paper on inland fisheries management (1995) 10.2 Major findings 10.2.1 The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia allows for the state to apply the principle of transfer of ownership of land and natural resources (within relevant laws) to any other natural resources, however, the actual default position in Article 100 stipulates the following: 22 FAO.2020. Legislation for SSF. A guide and considerations for implementing aspects of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication in national legislation. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb0885en 23 MFMR.2021. Legal review of Namibia’s National and Fisheries Policy against the SSF Guidelines. 31 Article 100 Sovereign Ownership of Natural Resources Land, water, and natural resources below and above the surface of the land and in the continental shelf and within the territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone of Namibia shall belong to the State if they are not otherwise lawfully owned. The State is therefore the sole owner of resources if these resources are not owned by another person or entity. By implication, the State can transfer ownership within relevant prescribed laws. 10.2.2 The Marine Resources Act of 2000 The Marine Resources Act 27 of 2000 (MRA) is the principal law dealing with marine fisheries. The MRA does not deal with sustainable swmall-scale fisheries at all, neither expressly nor impliedly. Assessing the MRA against the FAO SSF Guidelines reveals that most of the SSF related provisions are not being met, however, that is because the MRA was not written with a Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries lens in mind. Section 32 of the Act clearly indicates that the MRA caters primarily for large scale fisheries. 10.2.3 The Inland Fisheries Resources Act 1 of 2003 The Inland Fisheries Resources Act 1 of 2003 (IFRA) is the principal law dealing with inland fisheries. IFRA does provide for the Minister to make Regulations which would allow for sustainable small-scale fisheries, albeit that the Act uses the term subsistence fisheries subject to prescribed traditional fishing gear and methods. 10.2.4 Fisheries Reserves The Ministry of Fisheries has already started implementing a sustainable small-scale fisheries programme for inland fisheries, by using the provisions of section 22 and 29 of the Act. Section 22(1) empowers the Minister to declare a fisheries reserve, where only very restricted or no fishing may take place, as directed by the Minister. In terms of Section 29(2)(c) the Minister may make regulations which provide for the establishment of inland fisheries committees. Regulations have not yet been issued which stipulate requirements to recognise and gazette an inland fisheries committee. If this were to happen, section 24A of the Nature Conservation Ordinance as amended can serve as a good example for establishing SSF specific provisions. 10.2.5 Comments from key SSF stakeholders Comments from key SSF Stakeholders were received in a workshop held on 10 - 11 November 2021 to discuss the legal review. There was consensus that the IFRA places a large emphasises on conservation and very little emphasis on recognising, protecting, and promoting food security and livelihoods options for inland fisheries. It was recommended that greater emphasis be placed on the livelihoods and food security strategy aspect which can be done through specific Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries Regulations, thereby improving protection measures to be incorporated in the law for the larger population which rely on small scale fisheries (some wholly). It was also recommended that a distinction must be made between fisheries dependent communities and profit driven enterprises with sufficient financial resources which would result in unsustainable use of the resource (for example by using motorboats for fishing on the rivers and using illegal nets). 10.3 Key Recommendations from the legal review The legal review makes several key recommendations including the following • Some of the most relevant elements on SSF in the context of the SSF Guidelines are currently scattered across a number of different laws and policies and international agreements which Namibia has ratified, but all have no direct link to Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries or to fisheries at all. It is therefore proposed that Namibia formulate a Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries Law for Namibia, which law is to include national stakeholder inputs and adherence to international best practice but will not necessarily contain all the elements of the FAO SSF Guidelines in the law itself and will select those that are most relevant for Namibia. • The rights-based approach, which allows for regulation and law enforcement by the state, and which provides a complaints and redress platform for negatively affected persons cannot be condemned as being in violation of the Human Rights Based Approach to Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries. One good example of an aspect which requires regulation is the fact that increasingly fishers use motor powered boats on rivers for inland fisheries. The use of these boats obviously advantage these fishers in relation to without such a tool, and secondly the use of motor-powered boats arguably leads to an unsustainable depletion of the fish resource. 32 There are various transformative fisheries management approaches that are available as tools and resources to compliment traditional fisheries management approaches. Some are more holistic and present paradigm shifts; some deal primarily with the conservation of fish stocks and others deal with community based, cooperative or other group-based business models.24 What would be critical for sustainable small scale fisheries management is to find an approach that works well within the local context. To achieve this, researchers and development practitioners need to design locally relevant frameworks for small-scale fisheries management where key considerations should include rights (access, tenure, and fishing rights), policy, co-management, communication, capacity development, gender mainstreaming, the small-scale fisheries value chain, and fish trade. Alternative management approaches for SSF should ensure a balance between habitat restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation; access rights and impacts on poverty and food security. This can be achieved through modifying the approach and monitoring the intended and eventual consequences of its implementation. Some relevant resources for supporting such a framework are presented below: Table 13: Alternative small-scale fisheries management resources, tools and approaches No. Resource / Tool / Approach Brief description 1 The Voluntary Guideline on securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty alleviation (SSF Guidelines) The SSF Guidelines is centred around internationally accepted human rights standards and adopts the human rights-based approach (HRBA) to small-scale fisheries management. The guiding principles including non-discrimination, gender equality and equity, consultation and participation, rule of law, transparency, accountability, and respect of cultures, among others. 2 The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFm) The EAFm is an adaptive management tool and is a transition from the traditional “target species” management approach to a more holistic management paradigm that attempts to find a balance amongst environmental sustainability, human wellbeing, all underpinned on governance. Key implementation activities include, (i) dialogue with stakeholders and (ii) improved interagency collaboration. Interagency collaboration is particularly important in Namibia’s context where it is observed that development assistance, although aligned with national development priorities is not always collaborative. 3 Community-Level Vulnerability Assessment Tool (CVAT) The CVAT Tool is a risk and vulnerability assessment methodology to assist development practitioners and researchers to reduce community vulnerabilities through mitigation, comprehensive land-use, and development planning. CVAT analysis results provide a baseline to prioritize mitigation measures and to evaluate the effectiveness of those measures over time. 4 Fisheries Reserves (FR) or Fisheries Protected Areas (FPAs) FRs are an alternative management approach that is currently being implemented in the KAZA area, using Namibia as grounds for lesson learning. Early results indicate that protected fishing areas may lead to an increase in fish size and abundance (in comparison to similar unprotected areas which are open to year-round fishing activities). FR potentially increase the security of supply for participating households since the increase in fish catches adjacent to the FRs can be utilised for local consumption, and surplus can be sold in order to purchase basic household commodities or to pay school fees. FR improves efficient management in smaller areas and may prevent illegal fishing methods and gear and the commercialisation of the fisheries resource. 5 Transboundary Management Approaches Small-scale fishing communities living along Namibia’s perennial rivers in the Zambezi, Kavango East and West and //Hardap Regions share transboundary fisheries resources. Transboundary Management Approaches are critical in supporting the development and implementation of transboundary management plans to harmonise the legislation and management of shared resources. 24 MFMR.2021. Legal review: An analyse the degree of alignment of fisheries and other relevant national policy with the SSF Guidelines in Namibia. (In progress) 11. ALTERNATIVE SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT APPROACHES 33 12.1 Context It has been established that an estimated 280,000 Namibians (11% of the total population) rely on the SSF sector for their livelihoods support, including for socio-economic benefits, food (protein and micro nutrients) and nutrition security. Production in the inland small-scale fisheries subsector is estimated at 6,125 mt per annum, valued at N$230 million and provides direct self, seasonal or paid employment to approximately 45,000 Namibians. Total production in the coastal small-scale fisheries sub-sector is still being estimated by the MFMR, however the sub-sector is conservatively valued at N$27.6 million with direct self, seasonal or paid employment for 1,500 fishers. Despite the dependence of a large number of communities in the small-scale fisheries sector, historically, the sector has not received prominence in terms of a vision to fulfil its potential to support sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable fishing communities and fisheries dependent communities. The rationale for developing the NPOA-SSF is to consider the significance and importance of small scale fisheries and to enforce renewed support for key strategic actions to enable the realisation of the sector’s contribution to the local and national economies and society while protecting the resource base. Without discounting the importance of and need for biological and scientific management measures, key socio-economic considerations as outlined in the NPOA-SSF as adopted from the SSF Guidelines are equally important. A balance needs to be created between sustainable resource utilisation and management and human development within the sector. The legal review has established that Namibia’s principal fisheries laws do not include provisions for sustainable small-scale fisheries and has recommended a sustainable small-scale fisheries policy for the sub-sector. 12.2 Vision Namibia’s small-scale fisheries sector recognized, prioritized, supported, and contributing to socio economic development to improve livelihoods, food, and nutrition security, 12.3 Primary Objective The overall objective of the NPOA-SSF is to “recognize and support the role and importance of small scale fisheries and their contribution to socio-economic development for fishers and fisheries dependent communities, while paying due consideration to the need for restoration and sustainable management of the natural resources”. 12.4 Strategic Objectives The NPOA-SSF is anchored upon four (4) key components which are aligned to the four strategic pillars of Namibia’s fifth National Development Plan (NDP 5), a fifth (5th) pillar25, with a fifth component, a cross cutting theme introducing an enhanced for small-scale fisheries across the four key components. Component 1: Inclusive Governance: Developing effective national policies and programme for small scale fisheries and improving community governance There is a need to raise the profile of small-scale fisheries in national policies and programmes (particularly climate adaptation programmes), and small-scale fisheries should be included in regional 25 National Planning Commission. Namibia’s fifth National Development Plan (NDP 5). https://www.npc.gov.na/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NDP5.pdf 12. THE NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES 34 and local level development and adaptation planning initiatives. Community governance should be supported and improved to enable SSF to better organise themselves and to build their capacity by extending and expanding direct support to small-scale fishing communities to enable them to govern in accordance with SSF focused approaches (e.g. the SSF Guidelines). By so doing, it is expected that SSF can become their own advocates and agents of change. Component 2: Ecological integrity & Climate Change: Promoting sustainable resource management approaches & localised climate adaptation strategies A balanced approach is required to manage and maintain small-scale fish stocks at sustainable yield; maintain the ecological integrity of species and ecosystems while at the same time optimizing the benefits for small-scale fishing communities (through for example, improving post-harvest support and other innovative methods and processes) and addressing the potential impacts of climate change. Pursuing the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries resources through a community governance approach requires the development of tools and establishing approaches to empower small-scale fishing communities to play a role through localised management approaches. Component 3: Economic development: Improving the contribution of the small-scale fisheries sector to the local and national economies, and promoting inclusive blue growth, and enhancing public awareness of SSF Improved estimations of the contribution of small-scale fisheries is required. Key considerations to support realising the economic potential for small-scale fisheries is developing the small-scale fisheries value chain, including supporting the reduction of post-harvest losses through technology provision and modernization; introduction of localized credit and savings schemes; and economic diversification activities. Important will be to address the potential for emerging conflicts over resource use and benefits within SSF communities, hence guidelines for establishing SSFO and local level management approaches and measures are proposed. Component 4: Social transformation: Promoting innovative, transformative approaches for SSF, youth & gender mainstreaming and capacity building opportunities The small-scale fishing sector needs to ensure household food security and create meaningful employment for fisherwomen, fishermen and fish workers. Support to small-scale fishing organisations and small-scale fishing communities through training and capacity development across management, environmental, social, and economic objectives are avenues to support local transformation. Ongoing socio-economic assessments are required to determine the impacts of past and ongoing interventions on small-scale fishing communities. Institutions are urged to work collaboratively to direct support to small-scale fishers in a collective manner across all 14 regions where they occur. Gender and youth mainstreaming strategies should form part of the responsive designs for the SSF social transformation agenda. Component 5: Cross cutting theme: Cultivating a research agenda for and enhancing public awareness of SSF We still do not know enough about the inter-connectedness and multidimensional nature of SSF, SSF communities and SSF dependent communities, and the livelihoods that they support. There is therefore a need to build Namibia’s SSF research and knowledge base. The vision for small-scale fisheries is anchored upon the human, development and natural resources management contexts, and to address this vision, key proposed research intervention areas should equally consider the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. In fulfilling the vision for small-scale fisheries, the is a need to address the above key intervention areas, and to build a national research agenda to fill the knowledge gaps that exist on small-scale fisheries, small-scale fishing communities and fisheries dependent communities. As part of a Research Agenda for small-scale fisheries, six major themes have been identified to add value to the body of knowledge that can enhance small-scale fisheries development, these cut across five research components follows: i. Improve data and information on small-scale fisheries (contribution, catch, value) and gender disaggregated data on participation in the ssector ii. Promote effective partnerships within the blue and green economies iii. Integrate small-scale fisheries in spatial planning and coastal zone management plans iv. Develop and promote aquaculture models as alternative, adaptation livelihood activities v. Improve public awareness of SSF through advocacy Research, youth and technology are an integral part of the SSF Research agenda Dr Evans Simasiku (UNAM, Zambezi Region) introduces fisheries science students to the use of drone technology to use imagery for small-scale fisheries research to drive evidence based policy-making for inland small-scale fisheries development (© Simasiku, E., 2022) Drone technology illustrates that Lake Liambezi is drying up and slowly shrinking – the lake has supported an important subsistence and small-scale fishery for fishers in the Zambezi Region. (© Simasiku, E., 2022). 35 Research, youth and technology are an integral part of the SSF Research agenda Dr Evans Simasiku (UNAM, Zambezi Region) introduces fisheries science students to the use of drone technology to use imagery for small-scale fisheries research to drive evidence based policy-making for inland small-scale fisheries development (© Simasiku, E., 2022) Drone technology illustrates that Lake Liambezi is drying up and slowly shrinking – the lake has supported an important subsistence and small-scale fishery for fishers in the Zambezi Region. (© Simasiku, E., 2022). 36 A SWOT analysis was undertaken to evaluate the opportunities and challenges in the small-scale fisheries environment. Information for the SWOT was collected during the Regional Stakeholder consultation process and data collected from both the inland and coastal SSF sub-sectors were consolidated and tabulated below. The SWOT is important for development partners and private sector who are desirous of supporting further development of small-scale fishing communities. Strategic Objectives, outcomes and outputs were then positioned to respond to the SWOT. STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Available local and traditional knowledge (SSF, processing) Controlled, regulated low impact on fisheries resources Low environmental impact activity Limited appropriate alternative livelihood options necessitating over-reliance on fisheries resource Low levels of technology and innovation for the SSF sector Insufficient information on specific plans and programs for SSF Low monitoring & evaluation low socio-economic data collection and analysis Conservation focused fisheries management approaches not taking into account socio-economic aspects of the fishery Lack of enforcement of local & regional management plans and programmes for SSF & fisheries resources Lack of customary law enforcement capacity Pressure on fish resources resulting in over-fishing Sustainability of community-based management approaches (lack of funds and benefit-sharing models) Lack of policy reviews to respond to current state of affairs Limited funds to conduct socio economic surveys and small-scale fisheries research OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Support to organise, build capacity and improve cooperation for SSFO Support from local and government structures Climate finance and adaptation strategies for SSF Optimizing utilization of local fisheries resources SSF value chain development potential (preserve and improve quality of landings) Diversification of processed products / optimize value captured Gender mainstreaming opportunities Growing consumer demands for fish & fishery products Collaboration with and support from local, regional, and global research and academic institutions Alternative livelihood approaches (e.g., aquaculture) Competitive advantage of resources (rivers) for alternative livelihoods options (northern and southern areas) Lack of dedicated funding for SSF development Pressure on environment resulting in loss of environmental integrity Competition among fisheries actors Illegal fishing (transboundary resource / neighbouring countries) depleting fish stocks Pollution Loss of fishing grounds Climate change impacts Aquatic Animal diseases Invasive species 13. SWOT ANALYSIS 37 14. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS 14.1 Institutional Arrangements Implementation of the National Plan of Action for small-scale fisheries will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in close collaboration with key small-scale fisheries stakeholders at the local, regional, national, and global levels. The Food and Agriculture Organisation will provide technical backstopping during implementation. 14.2 Implementation Strategy The overall strategy and approach can be summarised as follows: Macro-level approach: Creating an enabling environment by establishing a Small-Scale Fisheries Policy and addressing existing government policies, strategies, and the legal framework for the socio economic development and sustainable management of the inland and coastal small-scale fisheries sub sectors. Building the capacity for small-scale fishers and fishing communities to respond to policy recommendations is pivotal. Meso-level approach: Addressing the needs of intermediaries, including policymakers, scientists, key SSF stakeholders to build capacities for small scale fishers, including to promote community governance practices in small-scale fisheries through the proposed Community Governance Framework for small scale fisheries Micro-level approach: To improve the contribution of small-scale fisheries to employment, food and nutrition security at the local level; to improve post-harvest losses and to optimize the small-scale fisheries value chain in support of local employment, community livelihoods and poverty reduction. 14.3 Monitoring & Evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation of progress in achieving project results and objectives will be undertaken based on the targets and indicators established in the Programme’s Results Framework. The M&E should be development-oriented and should occur across all spheres of the NPOA-SSF, but more specifically at local level where the services directly impact lives of rural young women and men. M&E activities will conform to international best practice M&E policies and guidelines and will include midterm and final evaluations which will identify primary lessons learnt for future application. 14.4 Coordination with existing and planned activities Coordination with existing and planned activities and projects related to small-scale fisheries s development is fundamental in ensuring efficient use of resources and to prevent a duplication of efforts. 38 Th e ac tiv iti es e xp ec te d ou tp ut s an d in di ca to rs , t ar ge ts a nd b as el in es a re in di ca tiv e an d ca n be u pd at ed d ur in g pr oj ec t im pl em en ta tio n. T he in di ca tiv e Lo gf ra m e m at rix w ill e vo lv e du rin g th e lif et im e of t he N PO A S SF , a s de em ed re le va nt fo r up da tin g in te rm ed ia ry ta rg et s (m ile st on es ). N PO A S SF O ut co m es a nd Im pa ct 15 . I N DI CA TI VE L O GF RA M E M AT RI X Re su lt C ha in In di ca to rs A ss um pt io ns In di ca to rs B as el in e (2 0 22 ) Ta rg et (2 0 26 ) M ea ns o f v er if ic at io n Im pa ct : T he c on tr ib ut io n of N am ib ia ’s S m al l Sc al e Fi sh er ie s Se ct or to s oc io e co no m ic d ev el op m en t, liv el ih oo ds , f oo d & nu tr iti on s ec ur ity im pr ov ed b y em po w er in g SS F an d m an ag in g th e re so ur ce ba se s us ta in ab ly N PO A S SF o pe ra tio na lis ed a nd re so ur ce d 0 1 (L au nc h of N PO A S SF ) N $ 19 ,9 m ill io n m ob ili se d N PO A SS F la un ch ed Re so ur ce s m ob ili se d Po lit ic al w ill to la un ch a nd m ob ili se re so ur ce s fo r th e N PO A S SF In la nd a nd c oa st al S m al l Sc al e fis he rs e m po w er ed a nd pa rt ic ip at in g in N PO A S SF ac tiv iti es a nd in S SF O 1 00 H A FA 50 0 SS FO re gi st ry Su pp or t p ro vi de d to S SF O to e st ab lis h an d or ga ni se O ut co m e: N at io na l an d lo ca l la w s, p ol ic ie s an d pl an s de ve lo pe d, a do pt ed , a nd s up po rt in g in la nd an d co as ta l sm al l sc al e fis he rie s or ga ni sa tio ns , pr ac tic es , liv el ih oo ds , va lu e ch ai ns an d fo od sy st em s. Sm al l s ca le fi sh er ie s la w de ve lo pe d an d im pl em en te d ac ro ss in la nd a nd c oa st al S SF se ct or s 0 1 SS F La w / Po lic y SS F La w / Po lic y de ve lo pe d Po lit ic al w ill to la un ch a nd m ob ili se re so ur ce s fo r th e N PO A S SF Re si lie nt a qu at ic fo od s ys te m s bu ilt a nd s us ta in ed fo r sm al l sc al e fis he rs (r es ea rc h po lic y pr ac tic e fo cu s) 26 1 (N PO A S SF ) 4 Re se ar ch Pr og ra m m es Re se ar ch re po rt s Re se ar ch p ub lic at io ns Pu bl is he d st ud ie s SS F st ak eh ol de rs , D ev el op m en t A ge nc ie s, R es ea rc h, an d te rt ia ry in st itu tio ns p rio rit iz in g ac tio n fo r SS F Re su lt C ha in In di ca to rs A ss um pt io ns In di ca to rs B as el in e (2 0 22 ) Ta rg et (2 0 26 ) M ea ns o f v er if ic at io n C om po ne nt 1 : I nc lu si ve G ov er na nc e: D ev el op in g ef fe ct iv e na tio na l p ol ic ie s fo r sm al l sc al e fis he rie s de ve lo pm en t a nd im pr ov in g co m m un ity g ov er na nc e O ut pu t 1 .1 N at io na l f is he rie s po lic y in st ru m en ts a lig ne d w ith re le va nt p ro vi si on s of t he S SF g ui de lin es / o r Su st ai na bl e sm al l sc al e fis he rie s la w f or i nl an d an d co as ta l S SF in N am ib ia fo rm ul at ed N at io na l P la n of A ct io n fo r SS F la un ch ed a nd o pe ra tio na l 0 1 (L au nc h of N PO A S SF ) M in is te ria l l au nc h Bu dg et a llo ca te d to op er at io na lis e th e N PO A S SF Po lit ic al w ill to la un ch t he N PO A S SF a nd to m ob ili se re so ur ce s to s up po rt im pl em en ta tio n 26 V ul ne ra bi lit y to V ia bi lit y G lo ba l P ar tn er sh ip . 2 02 2. h tt ps :// w w w .v 2v gl ob al pa rt ne rs hi p. or g/ 38 39 O ut pu t 1 .1 N at io na l f is he rie s po lic y in st ru m en ts a lig ne d w ith re le va nt p ro vi si on s of t he S SF g ui de lin es / o r Su st ai na bl e sm al l sc al e fis he rie s la w f or i nl an d an d co as ta l S SF in N am ib ia fo rm ul at ed Sm al l sc al e fis he rie s la w fo rm ul at ed fo r in la nd a nd c oa st al fis he rie s 0 1 SS F La w Sm al l s ca le fi sh er ie s la w Bl ue E co no m y Po lic y in cl us iv e of S SF 0 1 Bl ue E co no m y Po lic y C lim at e ac tio n po lic y in cl us iv e of S SF [r ed uc e vu ln er ab ili ty a nd pr om ot e lo ng t er m re si lie nc e fo r SS F in a c ha ng in g cl im at e] 0 1 C lim at e A ct io n Po lic y Re gu la tio ns u nd er IF RA de ve lo pe d to d et er m in e co nd iti on s fo r ga ze tt in g SS FO an d In la nd F is he rie s C om m itt ee s (IF C s) 0 14 G ov er nm en t G az et te no tic es O ut pu t 1 .2 En ha nc ed go ve rn an ce fo r in la nd an d co as ta l sm al l s ca le fi sh in g co m m un iti es SS F C om m un ity G ov er na nc e fr am ew or k (C G F) e st ab lis he d an d in te gr at ed in to N am ib ia ’s cl im at e ac tio n st ra te gy 0 1 SS F C om m un ity G ov er na nc e Fr am ew or k M FM R ad vo ca tin g fo r an d ac tio ni ng S SF co m m un ity g ov er na nc e N um be r of c om m un ity / SS F le ad er s em po w er ed , t ra in ed , su pp or te d, a nd g ov er ni ng S SF pe r re gi on (o f w hi ch 5 0% w om en ) th ro ug h th e SS F C G F 0 20 0 Tr ai ni ng R ep or ts C om po ne nt 2 : E co lo gi ca l i nt eg ri ty & C lim at e C ha ng e: S us ta in ab le re so ur ce m an ag em en t a pp ro ac he s & lo ca lis ed c lim at e ad ap ta tio n st ra te gi es O ut pu t 2 .1 Re si lie nt a qu at ic fo od s ys te m s bu ilt , vu ln er ab ili ty a ss es sm en ts fo r SS F un de rt ak en A p ro gr am m e to s up po rt c lim at e ad ap ta tio n fo r sm al l sc al e fis hi ng c om m un iti es a cr os s al l 1 4 Re gi on s de ve lo pe d 0 1 C lim at e A da pt at io n Pr og ra m m e fo r SS F (in cl ud e in pu t f ro m V A’ s) C lim at e A ct io n in cl us iv e of t he s m al l sc al e fis he rie s se ct or EI F, G EF , G C F, B C C , F AO s up po rt in g SS F N um be r of V ul ne ra bi lit y A ss es sm en ts (V A’ s) c on du ct ed fo r SS F an d fis he rie s de pe nd en t co m m un iti es 4 (H A FA , H en tie s Ba y, S w ak op m un d, W al vi s Ba y, L ud er itz ) 5 (a cr os s re gi on al cl us te rs ) V ul ne ra bi lit y as se ss m en t re po rt s O ut pu t 2 .2 Su pp or t t o SD G 1 3 (.3 ): Bu ild k no w le dg e an d ca pa ci ty o f S SF to m ee t c lim at e ch an ge N um be r of S SF tr ai ne d in c lim at e m iti ga tio n an d ad ap ta tio n, im pa ct re du ct io n an d ea rly w ar ni ng sy st em s 4 (H A FA , H en tie s Ba y, S w ak op m un d, W al vi s Ba y, L ud er itz ) 60 0 (a cr os s re gi on al cl us te rs ) Tr ai ni ng re po rt s N um be r of s us ta in ab le c lim at e ad ap ta tio n pr oj ec ts im pl em en te d an d SS F tr ai ne d [N B re du ce vu ln er ab ili ty a nd p ro m ot e lo ng t er m re si lie nc e fo r SS F in a ch an gi ng c lim at e] TB D 6 Re gi on s Pr oj ec t i m pl em en ta tio n re po rt s Tr ai ni ng R ep or ts O ut pu t 2 .3 Su pp or t to S D G 1 4 (b ): Pr ov id e ac ce ss fo r sm al l sc al e ar tis an al f is he rs t o m ar in e (a nd in la nd ) re so ur ce s an d m ar ke ts . N um be r of s m al l sc al e fis he rs tr ai ne d, s up po rt ed , a nd ac ce ss in g re so ur ce s an d m ar ke ts 10 0 fis he rs (c oa st al ) 0 (in la nd ) 20 0 (c oa st al ) 10 00 (i nl an d) A nn ua l R ep or ts Tr ai ni ng R ep or ts 40 C om po ne nt 3 : E co no m ic d ev el op m en t: Im pr ov in g th e co nt rib ut io n of t he s m al l sc al e fis he rie s se ct or to t he lo ca l a nd n at io na l e co no m ie s, a nd p ro m ot in g in cl us iv e bl ue g ro w th O ut pu t 3 .1 In cl us io n of s m al l sc al e fis he rie s de ve lo pm en t in cl im at e ac tio n an d th e bl ue e co no m y N o. o f S SF d er iv in g be ne fit s th ro ug h th e bl ue e co no m y an d cl im at e ac tio n pl an s 0 1, 50 0 N PO A S SF Bl ue E co no m y Po lic y N at io na l D ev el op m en t P la ns G ov er nm en t a dv oc at in g fo r rig ht s an d in cl us io n of S SF in n at io na l a nd re gi on al p la ns a nd p ro gr am m es M EF T, E IF , G EF , G C F, B C C , F AO s up po rt in g SS F N o. o f c lim at e ac tio n po lic ie s an d pr og ra m m es s up po rt in g an d re sp on si ve to S SF n ee ds 0 3 C lim at e A ct io n Po lic ie s an d Pl an s Re so ur ce m ob ili sa tio n st ra te gy de ve lo pm en t, re so ur ce s m ob ili se d fo r SS F 1 (N PO A S SF ) > N $ 19 ,9 m ill io n Re so ur ce M ob ili sa tio n st ra te gy Bu dg et a va ila bl e O ut pu t 3 .2 So ci o ec on om ic v al ue a nd c on tr ib ut io n of SS F de te rm in ed N o. o f s oc io e co no m ic a nd va lu at io n st ud ie s un de rt ak en fo r SS F C oa st al S SF c on tr ib ut io n an d va lu e de te rm in ed In la nd 6 ,12 5m t a nd N $2 30 m ill io n C oa st al , e st im at io n to b e fin al is ed 1 x st ud y (N ec ka rt al ) 1 x SS F St ud y co as ta l 1 x SS F St ud y in la nd SS F So ci o ec on om ic re po rt s O ut pu t 3 .3 Sm al l sc al e fis he rie s in fr as tr uc tu re pl an es ta bl is he d an d im pr ov in g po st h ar ve st p ra ct ic es Su st ai na bl e in fr as tr uc tu re p la n de ve lo pe d fo r SS F 0 1 (p la n) N at io na l S SF In fr as tr uc tu re Pl an N o. o f i nf ra st ru ct ur e si te s id en tif ie d, c on st ru ct ed a nd u nd er SS F m an ag em en t 1 (F is h m ar ke t i n Ka tim a) 5 (F is h m ar ke t i n SW K, W B, H B, L U D , Ru nd u) La un ch o f s ite s / m ar ke ts N o. o f S SF p ro vi de d w ith eq ui pm en t / it em s pr oc ur ed to su pp or t p os t ha rv es t p ra ct ic es 0 10 00 S SF Pr oc ur em en t a nd d is tr ib ut io n re po rt C om po ne nt 4 : S oc ia l t ra ns fo rm at io n: P ro m ot in g in no va tiv e, tr an sf or m at iv e ap pr oa ch es fo r SS F, y ou th & g en de r m ai ns tr ea m in g an d ca pa ci ty b ui ld in g op po rt un iti es O ut pu t 4 .1 A ne tw or k of ge nd er re sp on si ve sm al l sc al e fis he rie s or ga ni sa tio ns es ta bl is he d; a Tr ai ni ng ne ed s an al ys is c on du ct ed & n ee ds s up po rt ed G ui de lin es fo r es ta bl is hi ng S m al l Sc al e Fi sh er ie s O rg an is at io ns D ev el op ed 0 1 x G ui de lin es G ui de lin es fo r es ta bl is hi ng SS FO G ui de lin es a nd G en de r m ai ns tr ea m in g po lic ie s, p la ns a nd pr og ra m m es le d an d im pl em en te d by G ov er nm en t N um be r of S m al l Sc al e Fi sh er ie s O rg an is at io ns e st ab lis he d an d no o f m em be rs p ar tic ip at in g (o f w hi ch 5 0% w om en ) 3 SS FO 6 SS FO SS FO re gi st ry / da ta ba se SS FO A nn ua l R ep or ts SS FO n ew sl et te rs SS FO P ub lic at io ns C on su lta tiv e C ap ac ity a nd Tr ai ni ng n ee ds a ss es sm en t f or SS F co nd uc te d 0 20 0 SS F co ns ul te d N ee ds A ss es sm en t w or ks ho p N ee ds A ss es sm en t R ep or t Tr ai ni ng N ee ds R ep or t Re gi on al tr ai ni ng c on du ct ed / s up po rt p ro vi de d to S SF to re sp on d to k ey c ap ac ity a nd tr ai ni ng n ee ds 30 0 80 0 Tr ai ni ng re po rt 41 O ut pu t 4 .2 Sm al l sc al e fis he rie s va lu e ch ai n su pp or te d, de ve lo pe d, a nd o pt im iz ed a nd c on tr ib ut in g t o im pr ov ed n ut rit io n fo r ho us eh ol ds N um be r of g en de r in cl us iv e, su st ai na bl e SS F va lu e ch ai ns es ta bl is he d / i m pr ov ed a nd op er at io na liz ed 0 4 (c at fis h, ti la pi a, G al jo en , k ab el jo u) SS F va lu e ch ai n re po rt SS F m ar ke t r ep or t Sm al l Sc al e fis he rie s va lu e ch ai n as se ss m en t f un de d G en de r in cl us iv e Po st h ar ve st su pp or t a nd p ro ce ss in g tr ai ni ng fo r SS F va lu e ch ai ns (s m ok in g, dr yi ng , p re se rv at io n) 0 3 (s m ok in g, d ry in g, pr es er va tio n) Tr ai ni ng re po rt C om po ne nt 5 : C ro ss C ut ti ng T he m es : C ul tiv at in g a Re se ar ch A ge nd a fo r an d en ha nc in g pu bl ic a w ar en es s of s m al l sc al e fis he rie s O ut pu t 5 .1 A re se ar ch a ge nd a fo r S SF c ul tiv at ed a nd te rt ia ry in st itu tio ns a nd r es ea rc h pa rt ne rs u nd er ta ki ng re se ar ch to in fo rm p ol ic y op tio ns fo r SS F N o. o f r es ea rc h pl an s de ve lo pe d fo r SS F 3 (N PO A S SF /O O H U N A M / BC C ) 6 Re se ar ch P la ns Re se ar ch re po rt s A ca de m ia p rio rit is in g a re se ar ch a ge nd a fo r SS F N o. o f s tu di es s up po rt in g di sa gg re ga te d da ta c ol le ct io n fo r SS F 1 4 Re se ar ch R ep or ts Pa rt ne rs u nd er ta ki ng c ol la bo ra tiv e re se ar ch N o. o f s tu di es a nd u nd er ta ke n su pp or tin g a di ve rs e SS F re se ar ch a ge nd a 1 6 Pu bl ic at io ns Re se ar ch R ep or ts O ut pu t 5 .2 Pu bl ic a w ar en es s of S SF e nh an ce d ac ro ss al l l ev el s (lo ca l, re gi on al , a nd n at io na l) N o. o f S SF p ub lic at io ns , c as e st ud ie s an d in fo rm at io n fly er s de ve lo pe d an d di ss em in at ed ac ro ss a ll co m po ne nt s 1 (N PO A S SF fl ye r) 4 (V al ue o f S SF ; SS F pr oc es si ng & m ar ke ts ; G en de r in S SF ; C om m un ity G ov er na nc e fo r Su st ai na bl e SS F D ev el op m en t) Fl ye rs C as e st ud ie s Pr io rit iz at io n of a w ar en es s of s m al l sc al e fis he rie s; ad vo ca cy c am pa ig ns ; m ed ia a nd p ub lic s en si tiz at io n M on ito rin g an d Ev al ua tio n Pr og ra m m e de ve lo pe d an d im pl em en te d N o. o f p ol ic y br ie fs , r ad io an no un ce m en ts a nd p ub lic at io ns m ad e in v ar io us lo ca l l an gu ag es 0 2 Po lic y Br ie fs 2 pu bl ic at io ns / ca se s tu di es Ra di o an no un ce m en ts in 6 la ng ua ge s Po lic y br ie fs C as e st ud ie s Pu bl ic at io ns Ra di o an no un ce m en ts in lo ca l l an gu ag es O ut pu t 5 .3 M on ito rin g an d Ev al ua tin g im pl em en ta tio n of t he N PO A S SF N o. o f q ua rt er ly a nd a nn ua l ev al ua tio ns u nd er ta ke n 0 8 (4 q ua rt er ly a nd 4 an nu al e va lu at io ns ) Q ua rt er ly m on ito rin g re po rt s A nn ua l m on ito rin g re po rt s T B D = T o be d et er m in ed 42 Ke y O ut pu ts A ct iv it ie s Re sp on si bl e Ye ar 1 Ye ar 2 Ye ar 3 Ye ar 4 Ye ar 5 O ut pu t 1 .1 N at io na l f is he rie s po lic y in st ru m en ts a lig ne d w ith re le va nt p ro vi si on s of t he S SF g ui de lin es / o r Su st ai na bl e sm al l sc al e fis he rie s la w fo r in la nd a nd c oa st al S SF in N am ib ia fo rm ul at ed 1.1 .1 In la nd a nd c oa st al s ta ke ho ld er c on su lta tio ns to w ar ds a S m al l Sc al e Fi sh er ie s Po lic y 1.1 .2 D ev el op t he S SF P ol ic y 1.1 .3 M ob ili se re so ur ce s fo r th e N PO A S SF 1.1 .4 M ai ns tr ea m a nd in te gr at e SS F po lic y (in to n at io na l e co no m ic , c lim at e an d so ci al p ol ic ie s, p la ns an d pr og ra m m es – e .g . b lu e ec on om y po lic y; c lim at e ac tio n po lic y et c. ) M FM R FA O X X X X X O ut pu t 1 .2 En ha nc ed g ov er na nc e fo r in la nd a nd c oa st al sm al l s ca le fi sh in g co m m un iti es 1. 2. 1 D ev el op t he S SF C om m un ity G ov er na nc e fr am ew or k (C G F) e st ab lis he d an d in te gr at e in to N am ib ia ’s c lim at e ac tio n st ra te gy 1. 2. 2 D ev el op tr ai ni ng m at er ia ls fo r SS F co m m un ity g ov er na nc e (a lig ne d w ith S SF G ui de lin es a nd N PO A S SF ) a nd tr ai n co m m un iti es 1. 2. 2 Pr ov id e tr ai ni ng to a t l ea st 2 00 S SF a nn ua lly (o f w hi ch 5 0% w om en ) M FM R FA O X X O ut pu t 2 .1 Re si lie nt a qu at ic fo od s ys te m s bu ilt , t hr ou gh vu ln er ab ili ty a ss es sm en ts fo r SS F 2. 1.1 C om m is si on v ul ne ra bi lit y as se ss m en ts a cr os s 5 re gi on s 2. 1. 2 D ev el op p rio rit iz ed C om m un ity A da pt at io n st ra te gi es a nd p la ns 2. 1. 3 Im pl em en t t he p rio rit iz ed C om m un ity A da pt at io n St ra te gi es & P la ns M FM R FA O BC C EI F X X O ut pu t 2 .2 Su pp or t t o SD G 1 3 (.3 ): Bu ild k no w le dg e an d ca pa ci ty o f S SF to m ee t c lim at e ch an ge 2. 2. 1 D ev el op tr ai ni ng m at er ia l i n cl im at e m iti ga tio n, a da pt at io n, a nd im pa ct re du ct io n & ea rly w ar ni ng fo r SS F an d tr ai n co m m un iti es M FM R EI F N N F BC C X X 2. 2. 2 Im pl em en t s us ta in ab le c lim at e ad ap ta tio n pr oj ec ts fo r SS F (f oc us o n in te gr at io n) (r ed uc e vu ln er ab ili ty a nd p ro m ot e lo ng t er m re si lie nc e fo r SS F in a c ha ng in g cl im at e) 2. 2. 3 Pr ov id e tr ai ni ng to S SF to w ar ds p ro je ct s us ta in ab ili ty O ut pu t 2 .3 Su pp or t t o SD G 1 4 (b ): P ro vi de a cc es s fo r sm al l sc al e ar tis an al fi sh er s to m ar in e (a nd in la nd ) r es ou rc es a nd m ar ke ts . 2. 3. 1 C om m is si on a m ar ke tin g an d va lu e ch ai n as se ss m en t f or S SF 2. 3. 2 Su pp or t t he e st ab lis hm en t o f s us ta in ab le s m al l sc al e fis he rie s va lu e ch ai ns a nd c re at e m ar k e t l in ka ge s 2. 3. 3 C re at e an d es ta bl is h m ar ke t l in ka ge s fo r SS F (t o re du ce p os th ar ve st lo ss es ) M FM R FA O BC C X X X O ut pu t 3 .1 In cl us io n of s m al l sc al e fis he rie s de ve lo pm en t in c lim at e ac tio n an d th e bl ue e co no m y 3. 1.1 O rg an is e a ro un d ta bl e w ith p ot en tia l f un di ng p ar tn er s an d en ab le rs 3. 1. 3 C oo rd in at e a fu nd in g ap pr oa ch fo r SS F 3. 1. 4 Pr ep ar e an d fu nd S SF P ro je ct s 3. 1. 5 M on ito r an d ev al ua te d ev el op m en t i m pa ct M FM R M EF T FA O BC C EI F N PC X X X X X 16 . A CT IO N P LA N 42 43 O ut pu t 3 .2 So ci o ec on om ic v al ue a nd c on tr ib ut io n of SS F de te rm in ed 3. 2. 1 SS F So ci o ec on om ic d ev el op m en t a ss es sm en t s tu dy u nd er ta ke n an d pu bl is he d 3. 2. 2 SS F va lu at io n st ud y un de rt ak en a nd p ub lis he d M FM R FA O Te rt ia ry in st itu tio ns X X O ut pu t 3 .3 Sm al l s ca le fi sh er ie s in fr as tr uc tu re p la n es ta bl is he d an d im pr ov in g po st h ar ve st pr ac tic es 3. 3. 1 SS F In fr as tr uc tu re p la n de ve lo pe d, a nd re le va nt s ite s co ns tr uc te d 3. 3. 2 Eq ui pm en t a nd it em s pr oc ur ed to s up po rt p os t ha rv es t p ra ct ic es a nd v al ue c ha in d ev el op m en t M FM R FA O X X X X O ut pu t 4 .1 A n et w or k of g en de r re sp on si ve s m al l sc al e fis he rie s or ga ni sa tio ns e st ab lis he d & ne ed s su pp or te d 4. 1.1 G ui de lin es f o r es ta bl is hi ng S SF d ev el op ed 4. 1. 2 C ap ac ity a nd T ra in in g ne ed s as se ss m en t f or S SF c on du ct ed 4. 1. 3 SS FO e st ab lis hm en t a nd o rg an is at io n su pp or te d M FM R FA O X X O ut pu t 4 .2 Sm al l sc al e fis he rie s va lu e ch ai n su pp or te d, de ve lo pe d, a nd o pt im iz ed a nd c on tr ib ut in g to im pr ov ed n ut rit io n fo r ho us eh ol ds 4. 2. 1 G en de r in cl us iv e, s us ta in ab le S SF v al ue c ha in s es ta bl is he d or im pr ov ed a nd o pe ra tio na liz ed 4. 2. 2 Po st h ar ve st s up po rt a nd p ro ce ss in g tr ai ni ng fo r SS F (s m ok in g, d ry in g, p re se rv at io n) 4. 2. 3 T ra in in g m at er ia l m ad e av ai la bl e in lo ca l l an gu ag es M FM R FA O BC C X X X O ut pu t 5 .1 A re se ar ch a ge nd a fo r SS F cu lti va te d an d te rt ia ry in st itu tio ns a nd re se ar ch p ar tn er s un de rt ak in g re se ar ch to in fo rm p ol ic y op tio ns fo r SS F 5. 1.1 Re se ar ch P la n fo r SS F de ve lo pe d 5. 1. 2 St ud ie s on S SF u nd er ta ke n ac ro ss d iv er se re se ar ch to pi cs 5. 1. 3 SS F pu bl ic at io ns , f ly er s an d po lic y br ie fs d ev el op ed a nd w id el y di ss em in at ed M FM R Te rt ia ry in st itu tio ns FA O X X X X X O ut pu t 5 .2 Pu bl ic a w ar en es s of S SF e nh an ce d ac ro ss al l l ev el s (lo ca l, re gi on al , a nd n at io na l) 5. 2. 1 A dv oc ac y an d co m m un ic at io n’ s pl an fo r SS F de ve lo pe d 5. 2. 2 SS F Po lic y br ie fs , c as e st ud ie s, in fo rm at io n fly er s an d pu bl ic at io ns d ev el op ed a nd w id el y di ss em in at ed (l in k to 5 .1. 3) 5. 2. 3 Ra di o an no un ce m en ts o n SS F m ad e in v ar io us lo ca l l an gu ag es M FM R FA O M IC T X X X X X O ut pu t 5 .3 M on ito rin g, E va lu at io n an d Le ar ni ng F ra m ew or k de ve lo pe d an d im pl em en te d 5. 3. 1 M on ito rin g, e va lu at io n an d le ar ni ng fr am ew or k de ve lo pe d an d im pl em en te d M FM R FA O X X X X X 44 17 . R ES UL TS B UD GE T To ta l b y co m po ne nt Ye ar 1 Ye ar 2 Ye ar 3 Ye ar 4 Ye ar 5 To ta l ( N $ ) % o f T ot al (N $ ) C om po ne nt 1 : In cl us iv e G ov er na nc e D ev el op in g ef fe ct iv e na tio na l p ol ic ie s fo r sm al l sc al e fis he rie s de ve lo pm en t a nd im pr ov in g co m m un ity go ve rn an ce 73 5, 00 0 61 2, 50 0 61 2, 50 0 36 7, 50 0 12 2, 50 0 2 ,4 50 ,0 00 12 % C om po ne nt 2 : E co lo gi ca l I nt eg ri ty & C lim at e C ha ng e S us ta in ab le re so ur ce m an ag em en t a pp ro ac he s & lo ca lis ed c lim at e ad ap ta tio n st ra te gi es 1 ,2 30 ,0 00 1 ,0 25 ,0 00 1 ,0 25 ,0 00 61 5, 00 0 20 5, 00 0 4 ,10 0, 00 0 21 % C om po ne nt 3 : E co no m ic D ev el op m en t Im pr ov in g th e co nt rib ut io n of t he s m al l sc al e fis he rie s se ct or to t he lo ca l a nd n at io na l e co no m ie s, p ro m ot in g in cl us iv e bl ue g ro w th & c lim at e ac tio n 1 ,6 14 ,0 00 1, 34 5, 00 0 1 ,3 45 ,0 00 80 7, 00 0 26 9, 00 0 5, 38 0, 00 0 27 % C om po ne nt 4 : S oc ia l T ra ns fo rm at io n Pr om ot in g in no va tiv e, tr an sf or m at iv e ap pr oa ch es fo r SS F, y ou th a nd g en de r m ai ns tr ea m in g an d ca pa ci ty bu ild in g op po rt un iti es 75 9, 00 0 63 2, 50 0 63 2, 50 0 37 9, 50 0 12 6, 50 0 2 ,5 30 ,0 00 13 % C om po ne nt 5 : C ro ss C ut ti ng T he m es C ul tiv at in g a re se ar ch a ge nd a an d en ha nc in g pu bl ic aw ar en es s of s m al l sc al e fis he rie s 66 0, 00 0 55 0, 00 0 55 0, 00 0 33 0, 00 0 11 0, 00 0 2 ,2 00 ,0 00 11 % Pr oj ec t M an ag em en t 85 0, 00 0 75 0, 00 0 68 0, 00 0 52 0, 00 0 45 0, 00 0 3 ,2 50 ,0 00 16 % M on ito ri ng , E va lu at io n an d Le ar ni ng 14 5, 00 0 16 8, 00 0 22 5, 00 0 53 8, 00 0 3% To ta l ( N $ ) 5, 8 4 8, 0 0 0 4 ,9 15 ,0 0 0 4 ,8 4 5, 0 0 0 3 ,0 19 ,0 0 0 1 ,2 8 3, 0 0 0 19 ,9 10 ,0 0 0 44 45 BCC. 2017. 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