The Namibian fishing sector is up in arms against the recent licensing of miners to explore for minerals in the country's coastal seabed. Workers and organizations within the industry are calling on the government to halt the issuance of any new permits and to revoke previously granted ones. They argue that such actions are necessary to safeguard Namibia's fisheries and aquaculture sector, which stands as the second-largest export earner of foreign currency after mining.

Protests erupted earlier this month in Windhoek and Walvis Bay, spearheaded by prominent Namibian fishing industry organizations such as the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations, the Namibian Hake Association, and the Midwater Trawling Association of Namibia. These organizations, supported by the National Union of Namibian Workers and the Trade Union Congress of Namibia, have petitioned Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta to refrain from granting an environmental clearance certificate. Such a certificate would greenlight marine phosphate mining, a move they argue would "compromise economic, environmental, and social endeavors."

The three fishing organizations have taken their concerns to Namibia's High Court, seeking to nullify a mining permit issued to Namibia Marine Phosphate Ltd (NMP) in 2011. They argue that no proper environmental impact assessment was conducted prior to the issuance of the permit.

The protests were sparked by mounting pressure from Namibia Marine Phosphate Ltd (NMP) to reinstate its environmental clearance permit for the Sandpiper Project. This project granted preliminary access to parts of Namibia's offshore seabed.

In 2011, NMP was granted a mining license ahead of an environmental clearance certificate issued in September 2015 by Namibia's environmental commissioner. However, the certificate was later revoked by the environment minister in November 2016 due to inadequate public and stakeholder consultation.

NMP appealed the minister's decision and received a favorable ruling from the Namibian High Court in 2018. With clearance obtained, NMP has defended the project, refuting claims that it would devastate Namibia's fishing industry. The company argues that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support such claims.

NMP had previously commissioned an independent fisheries specialist to assess the potential impact of its projects on Namibia's commercial fishing industry. The specialist concluded that the Sandpiper Project would have a "medium to low" impact on the commercial fishing sector. However, the report also warns that negative impacts could escalate if similar mining activities are expanded or introduced elsewhere.

Namibia's Chamber of Mines, representing the mining sector, has expressed willingness to collaborate with the government to develop a viable strategy for marine phosphate mining. Such a strategy, they assert, should ensure the coexistence of mining activities with the environment and other sectors of the economy.

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