Namibia is positioning salmon farming as a key pillar of industrialisation and sustainable blue economy growth, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Masake said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a conference titled “Unlocking Namibia’s Salmon Industry: An Opportunity for Industrialisation,” Ms Masake said the country aims to diversify beyond traditional wild-catch fisheries by developing high-value aquaculture and agro-processing industries.

“Unlocking the potential of Namibia’s salmon industry presents a real opportunity for economic transformation through value chain development,” she said.

Ms Masake noted that establishing a domestic salmon value chain could attract foreign direct investment, generate skilled and semi-skilled employment, strengthen cold-chain logistics and agro-processing infrastructure, and expand export earnings.

Salmon is among the world’s most traded and consumed fish species, commanding premium prices in markets across Europe, Asia and North America.

Ms Masake said Namibia’s cold Benguela Current system, along with its stable governance and investor-friendly environment, provides favourable conditions for salmon aquaculture.

She added that the sector could stimulate related industries, including feed production, packaging, logistics, research and technological innovation, contributing to the development of a broader industrial ecosystem.

As climate change and overfishing put increasing pressure on wild fish stocks, aquaculture is widely viewed as a sustainable solution to meet rising global seafood demand.

Ms Masake said industrial salmon farming would allow for controlled production, improved biosecurity and more predictable output.

For Namibia, this could help reduce reliance on fluctuating wild catches, enhance domestic protein supply and build more climate-resilient food systems.

However, she emphasised that the development of the salmon industry must adhere to responsible environmental management practices and international standards on water quality, waste management and biodiversity protection.

Ms Masake also called for strong public-private partnerships, clear regulatory frameworks, and sustained investment in research and skills development.

She stressed the importance of inclusive policies that ensured women and youth played central roles in the growth of the emerging industry. 

(Xinhua/NAN)