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Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) management is a concept aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of the entire ecosystem. While EAF is a noble approach, its implementation has been challenging. Although Namibia has committed to the implementation of EAF, only limited assessment has been done of Namibian fisheries management processes and instruments concerning EAF. A qualitative assesment was done to ascertain if the Namibian fisheries management processes and instruments conform to the EAF principles. Namibian fisheries management processes and instruments largely conform to the EAF principles, although there are notable areas needing improvements. The conformities were pronounced in the total allowable catch setting, rebuilding depleted stocks, minimizing bycatch, and fishing impact minimization. The polluter pays, and user pays principles were also applied. Areas that were found lacking in this study included setting the indicators for EAF and ecosystem integrity. The assessment also noted the absence of guidelines for the precautionary approach principle and a transparent policy for quota and right allocation processes. The strategies for managing transboundary fish species are also not formulated. Overall, this assessment showed the complexities and challenges that Namibia and other countries need to overcome to implement EAF successfully.

Elevated trace metal in the aquatic environment is a global challenge. In this investigation, copper (Cu) levels were assessed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) during winter and summer months of 2012. The aim of this study was to determine the pollution status of Central Namibian coastline using copper levels in black mussel, sediments and water as indicators. Results indicated that Cu levels were significantly higher at Walvis Bay Harbour in mussels, sediments and water column (P < 0.05). Levels between summer and winter were not significant (P > 0.05). Black mussels at Walvis Bay Harbour could be regarded safe for consumption as the recorded levels were within the permissible limit set by the European Commission (EC. No.466/2001). However, further monitoring of the coastline is ecologically imperative to avoid human risks and irreversible ecological impacts.

Achieving sustainable development is a major challenge, especially among developing fishing nations which depend more on fisheries resources as a source of food and income. In Namibia, a developing fishing nation, many marine fishery resources were overfished pre-independence. Thus, measures implemented post-independence were aimed at sustainable utilization of fishery resources. This paper gives a sustainability analysis of the Namibian marine fishing subsector using broad aspects of sustainable development such as ecological, socioeconomic , and technological aspect. Each aspect is represented by the following indicators: Mean Trophic Levels of landings, value of landings, contribution to state revenues and Gross Domestic Product as well as type of fishing gear. Indicators were computed using secondary data obtained from the Ministry of Fisheries for the period, 1990-2007. Trends of the ecological indicator suggest an improvement in ecosystem state, which could have led to increasing value of landings and contribution to GDP. Generally, indicators used showed that fishing impacts on the ecosystem state are less and economic performance of the sub-sector was good; especially notable is the increasing number of vessels in the hake fishery relative to increase in landings. While there are signs, it is difficult to conclude with absolute certainty whether the development of the Namibian marine fishing sub-sector was sustainable.