Ministy of Fisheries and Marine Resources

What Ministy of Fisheries and Marine Resources does

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) is a Namibian government ministry responsible for the sustainable management of marine and inland living aquatic resources, headquartered in Windhoek at Brendan Simbwaye Square. It operates under a statutory mandate established by the Marine Resources Act 2000 (Act No. 27 of 2000), the Aquaculture Act 2002 (Act No. 18 of 2002), and the Inland Fisheries Act, and serves commercial fishing enterprises, aquaculture operators, recreational fishers, and rural northern communities. Its functional scope covers fishing rights and quota allocation, vessel and aquaculture licensing, fisheries law enforcement, stock assessment, marine spatial planning, and aquaculture development.

Its core operational assets include the National Marine Aquarium (320,000-liter tank with 8-meter acrylic viewing tunnel), two dedicated research vessels (RV Mirabilis in Walvis Bay and RV !Anichab in Luderitz), the National Marine Information and Research Center (NatMIRC) in Swakopmund, the Luderitz Marine Research Center, and eight inland aquaculture/fish farms plus a fish feed factory at Onavivi. Supporting technology comprises the Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS), the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tracking EEZ-wide vessel movements, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) instruments, and three manned island research stations (Possession, Mercury, Ichaboe) within the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area.

MFMR's revenue model blends national budget allocation with fee- and license-based income streams: monthly/quarterly levies from fishing rights and quota holders, recreational fishing permits (one month or one year), annual vessel licenses, aquaculture licenses, and competitive auctions of governmental objective fish quotas (e.g., 1,000 MT monk quota at minimum N$10,000/MT). Services are delivered through 14 regional offices, three manned island stations, and the e-procurement portal, with leadership comprising a Minister, Deputy Minister, Executive Director, and directorate-level heads across Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries, Resources Management, Operations, and Policy, Planning and Economics.

Name

Ministy of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Legal name

Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Website

https://mfmr.gov.na

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) is the Namibian government ministry that regulates and sustainably manages marine and inland fisheries, administers fishing rights and quotas, runs aquaculture development programs, and conducts marine research across all 13 regions of Namibia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fisheries and Marine Resources Management

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYAFAEAAAA

Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Aquaculture (Fish & Shellfish Farming)

SECONDARYAFAEAAAH

Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Aquaculture (Fish & Shellfish Farming)

SECONDARYBPADALAI

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

Keywords

• Fisheries resource management
• Marine resource regulation
• Aquaculture development services
• Fishing license administration
• Marine conservation research

Headquarters

HQ city

Windhoek

HQ country

Namibia

HQ region

Africa

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Fishing Rights and Quota Allocation: Administration and allocation of fishing rights and quotas under the Marine Resources Act, with fees and levies payable by right holders on monthly and quarterly basis
2. Governmental Objective Fish Quota Disposal: Auction/disposal of governmental objective fish quotas (e.g., 1,000 MT of Monk freezer fish) to generate government revenue
3. Recreational Fishing Permits: Issuance of fishing permits for recreational purposes, available for one month or one year periods upon payment of prescribed fees
4. Vessel Licensing: Issuance of fishing vessel licenses within two working days under the Marine Resources Act
5. Aquaculture Licenses: Processing and issuance of aquaculture licenses within one month from date of receipt, under the Aquaculture Act

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MFMR is the Government of Namibia's statutory regulator for living aquatic resources, administering fishing rights and quotas, issuing commercial and recreational fishing permits, enforcing fisheries law, conducting marine ecosystem research via dedicated vessels and laboratories, and developing the inland aquaculture sector through regional centres and a fish feed manufacturing facility. It also operates the National Marine Aquarium in Swakopmund as a public education attraction.

Product overview

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is a Namibian government ministry that offers public services related to marine resource management, aquaculture development, fisheries research, and marine conservation. Its portfolio includes the National Marine Aquarium (a public attraction), multiple inland aquaculture centres and fish farms across Namibia's regions (producing tilapia, catfish, oysters, abalone, and seaweed), a fish feed manufacturing facility at Onavivi, research vessels (RV Mirabilis and RV !Anichab), the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for fishing fleet surveillance, and the Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS) for internal resource management. The ministry also provides policy, planning, economics, statistics, fisheries administration, and law enforcement services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fishing Rights and Quota Allocation Statutory administration and allocation of fishing rights and quotas under the Marine Resources Act, with fees and levies payable monthly and quarterly by right holders across the Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Aquaculture Licenses Processing and issuance of aquaculture licenses within one month from receipt of application under the Aquaculture Act (Act No.2 of 2002).
• Recreational Fishing Permits Issuance of recreational fishing permits available for one-month or one-year periods upon payment of prescribed fees under Regulation 39 of the fisheries regulations.
• Vessel Licenses Issuance of fishing vessel licenses within two working days under the Marine Resources Act.
• Governmental Objective Fish Quota Auction Auction of governmental objective fish quotas (for example 1,000 MT of Monk freezer fish) administered jointly with the Ministry of Finance, with bids accepted in multiples of 100 MT and a non-refundable N$1,000 administrative fee.
• National Marine Aquarium Public education attraction in Swakopmund featuring an oval tank of 320,000 litres capacity with an eight-metre acrylic viewing tunnel, showcasing Namibian marine species including cob, galjoen, steenbras and kolstert. Inaugurated in 1995.
• Onavivi Fish Feed Factory Fish feed production facility at the Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre producing feeds with 15%, 25%, 30% and 38% crude protein content for different aquaculture systems, built under a Namibian-Spanish cooperative agreement.
• Government Inland Aquaculture Centres and Fish Farms Network of government-operated aquaculture facilities across Namibia including Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute (Divundu), Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre (Omusati), Ongwediva IAC (Oshana), Hardap IAC, Leonardville IAC (Omaheke), Epalela Fish Farm and Mpungu Fish Farm (Kavango), with fingerling and fish production plus training services.
• Fisheries Research Surveys (RV Mirabilis and RV !Anichab) Marine ecosystem and fisheries research services delivered through dedicated research vessels based in Walvis Bay (RV Mirabilis) and Luderitz (RV !Anichab), including 8-10 environmental surveys annually covering physical, chemical and biological oceanographic processes, with ADCP instrumentation for current profiling.
• Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Service Electronic monitoring service tracking the position and movements of licensed fishing vessels within the Exclusive Economic Zone, supporting compliance, surveillance and the National Plan of Action to prevent IUU fishing.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NAMPORT (Namibia Ports Authority)coreOthersNAMPORT is listed as an offsite link and quick link on the MFMR website, indicating ongoing cooperation in port-related matters for fisheries operations and research vessel logistics.
• SEAFO (South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation)coreOthersSEAFO is a regional fisheries management organization. MFMR participates in SEAFO fora annually to represent Namibia's interests and share marine resource data.
• Benguela Current ConventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperation initiative for the Benguela Current large marine ecosystem, coordinated through the MSP-NWG and contributing to the BCC Strategic Action Programme.
• NAMFI (Namibia Fisheries)coreOthersListed as an offsite link, NAMFI is a key stakeholder in Namibia's fisheries sector for industry coordination and compliance.
• MSP-NWG (Marine Spatial Planning National Working Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-ministry working group led by MFMR to coordinate the MSP process in Namibia, consisting of representatives from 13 ministries and institutions including Agriculture, Defence, Environment, Mines, Land Reform, and universities.
• Namibian and Spanish Government (Cooperative Agreement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement between the two governments resulted in the construction of the fish feed factory at Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre to address the shortage of fish feed and improve fish farming among rural communities.
• International Research Vessel Programs (Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, RV Meteor)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFMR staff participate in research cruises aboard international research vessels including the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen and RV Meteor for collaborative marine research.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division: UN body that provides fisheries policy frameworks, stock assessment guidance, and aquaculture development support globally. Comparable in mandate (sustainable fisheries management, aquaculture development) but operates as an international standard-setter rather than a national regulator.
• Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand): New Zealand's primary industries ministry manages fisheries through the Quota Management System and aquaculture legislation. Comparable in mandate scope (commercial fishing, aquaculture, marine conservation) and in operating an IT-based quota management system analogous to MFMR's FIMS and VMS.
• Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (Norway): Norwegian ministry responsible for fisheries management, aquaculture policy, and maritime industry. Comparable as a national government fisheries authority with quota allocation, vessel licensing, and aquaculture development mandates, but operating in a far more mature, industrial-scale context.

Emerging players

• Marine Research Institute (Iceland - MFRI): Icelandic government marine and freshwater research institute conducting stock assessment and ecosystem monitoring. Comparable in its dedicated research-vessel-based monitoring, ADCP and hydroacoustic survey work, and role as the scientific arm supporting national fisheries management.

Direct peers

• Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (South Africa): South African government department that, until its 2024 restructuring, administered fisheries and marine resources through a similar legislative framework (Marine Living Resources Act). Closest direct comparator as a neighbouring country fisheries regulator covering commercial fishing, aquaculture, and resource management.
• Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development - Fisheries (Western Australia): Western Australian government agency managing commercial, recreational, and aquaculture fisheries with vessel monitoring, quota allocation, and stock assessment functions. Directly comparable in regulatory operating model, including integrated research, compliance, and licensing directorates.
• South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO): Regional fisheries management organisation for the South East Atlantic in which MFMR is an active contracting party. Closely comparable as a fisheries governance body operating in the same waters and species (including monk and deep-sea red crab) regulated by MFMR's quota framework.
• Benguela Current Convention (BCC): Inter-governmental convention coordinating management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem across Namibia, Angola, and South Africa. MFMR is the Namibian focal point, making BCC a direct partner peer in ecosystem governance, MSP, and LME-wide scientific cooperation.

Regional players

• Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (Mozambique): Mozambican fisheries ministry sharing Benguela Current influence and Indian Ocean fisheries with Namibia. Comparable as a Southern African Development Community (SADC) neighbour managing marine resources, aquaculture, and inland fisheries under similar tropical/sub-tropical conditions.

Others

• Namibia Ports Authority (Namport): Namibian state-owned port operator at Walvis Bay and Luderitz. Listed on MFMR's website as an offsite link, Namport is an enabling/adjacent partner that provides landing, berthing, and logistics infrastructure for the fishing fleet and MFMR's research vessels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MFMRNamibia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministy-of-fisheries-and-marine-resources

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministy of Fisheries and Marine Resources