National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, 2007.

Management and development of fisheries in Namibia is the responsibility of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR). MFMR’s Mission Statement is: “To strengthen Namibia’s position as a leading fishing nation and to contribute towards the achievement of our economic, social and conservation goals for the benefit of all Namibians”. Since independence, policy for the sector has been, and continues to be, driven by the following key document: Towards Responsible Development of the Fisheries Sector (1991, revised 2004). Actions specified under the current policy to address IUU fishing include: Development and implementation of national plans of action in support of the various FAO international plans of action, relating to, inter alia, IUU fishing, sea birds, fishing capacity and sharks. Introduction of a national satellite –based Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to provide for real time monitoring of vessel movement and activities, and to assist in curbing IUU fishing activities within and outside the EEZ by Namibian flagged vessels. The introduction of the VMS is intended also to enable Namibia to comply with requirements by international fisheries management organisations to which Namibia is a contracting party. Enforce port state responsibilities over all vessels visiting Namibian ports and implement measures to take legal action against vessels that engage in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. Enforce flag state responsibilities over all vessels flying the Namibian flag in respect to national fisheries legislation as well as management and conservation measures laid down in international plans of action, conventions and agreements for the conservation of marine resources to which Namibia is a party. The document acknowledges that policy statements and legislation alone cannot achieve results in fighting IUU fishing and therefore adequate human, financial and material resources shall be made available by MFMR for MCS operations.
The two primary legal instruments governing marine fisheries are: Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone of Namibia Act (no. 3 of 1990); Marine Resource Act (no. 27 of 2000). At Independence, the Government proclaimed a 200 nm zone (EEZ) in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. The Marine Resources Act (2000) and Regulations Relating to the Exploitation of Marine Resources (2001, as amended) provide the basic legal framework for management and regulation of the marine fisheries sector. This Act was developed in the late nineties, following Namibia’s accession to various international fisheries conventions, agreements and arrangements, which prompted a revision of the Sea Fisheries Act (1992). The Act sets forth the details of a rights-based management system, the main elements of which are outlined below.
The Namibia’s NPOA to deter, eliminate and prevent IUU fishing is designed to support effective implementation of FAO’s International Plan of Action (IPOA-IUU) as provided for in paragraphs 25 to 27 of the IPOA-IUU. The basic terminology of IUU fishing, as defined in the IPOA-IUU, is given in Annex 1. To ensure that the NPOA continues to remain relevant and up-to date, it will be reviewed periodically. The review process will enable the Ministry to identify cost-effective strategies to increase the effectiveness of the Plan. The NPOA details seven types of mutually reinforcing measures designed to facilitate implementation of the IPOA-IUU. These measures are categorized as follows: States’ responsibilities; Flag State responsibilities; Coastal State measures; Port State measures; Internationally agreed market-related measures; Regional fisheries management organizations; Special requirements of developing countries.