Lobster industry ‘on the rocks’

NAMIBIA’S rock lobster industry, based at Luederitz, is in dire straits after a terrible season in which just over half of the total allowable catch (TAC) was caught.

Ron Wolters, Chairperson of Namrock, the marketing arm of the lobster industry, told The Namibian yesterday that, with the close of the season at the end of April, “the industry is not in a very pleasant situation”. “I don’t think anyone of the 21 concessionaires made money this season.Everybody is financially strained and their income will not cover their expenses,” said Wolters.About 98 per cent of Namibia’s lobster catch is exported to Japan.Wolters attributed the poor season to three factors: * the fluctuating exchange rate, which has affected all exporters negatively; * the markets in Japan, which are not economically buoyant at present; and * unseasonable and unpredictable rough weather that has limited fishing days this season as boats cannot catch in rough seas.The Namibian industry also had to compete with other countries, including South Africa, that have entered the Japanese market.”This meant prices had fallen substantially,” said Wolters.He added that because of cost-saving measures quota holders decided this season to only catch north of Luederitz.The problem is that bigger size lobsters are normally found in these waters.This meant that Namibian quota holders had to go with the South African price, which “was a very bad price”.Before the start of a new season, Wolters normally negotiates a set price with the Japanese market for Namibian lobster.”Sixty per cent of our catch is normally the Namibian size, which is smaller than the South African lobster and that is the size we base the price on.”The Namibian size lobster is mostly caught south of Luederitz, which is 12 to 18 hours away.”We wanted to catch as cheaply as possible this year, and decided to give up that portion of the quota,” said Wolters.As a result, by the end of the season only about 54 per cent of the 420 ton TAC had been caught.As only seasonal workers are employed for the lobster season from November to April, Wolters said there would be no retrenchments.He said there was some optimism for the next season as lower stocks in Japan should mean better prices.”There are also signs of economic improvement in Japan which would hopefully work its way through to the consumers,” he said.According to Wolters, the industry had been able to cope with the poor weather conditions experienced during the past two years.It was the financial challenges that were causing the problems, he said.Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources scientists are looking at possible causes for the poor lobster catches of the past three years when fishermen struggled filling their quotas.According to an article in a fishing magazine, the biggest problem appears to be that lobsters are not entering the traps, which indicates a change in feeding activities.There are three reasons why lobster won’t feed: If they are moulting [shedding shells], when the oxygen level is very low, and if there is a very strong bottom surge, as is caused by high swells.”I don’t think anyone of the 21 concessionaires made money this season.Everybody is financially strained and their income will not cover their expenses,” said Wolters.About 98 per cent of Namibia’s lobster catch is exported to Japan.Wolters attributed the poor season to three factors: * the fluctuating exchange rate, which has affected all exporters negatively; * the markets in Japan, which are not economically buoyant at present; and * unseasonable and unpredictable rough weather that has limited fishing days this season as boats cannot catch in rough seas.The Namibian industry also had to compete with other countries, including South Africa, that have entered the Japanese market.”This meant prices had fallen substantially,” said Wolters.He added that because of cost-saving measures quota holders decided this season to only catch north of Luederitz.The problem is that bigger size lobsters are normally found in these waters.This meant that Namibian quota holders had to go with the South African price, which “was a very bad price”.Before the start of a new season, Wolters normally negotiates a set price with the Japanese market for Namibian lobster.”Sixty per cent of our catch is normally the Namibian size, which is smaller than the South African lobster and that is the size we base the price on.”The Namibian size lobster is mostly caught south of Luederitz, which is 12 to 18 hours away.”We wanted to catch as cheaply as possible this year, and decided to give up that portion of the quota,” said Wolters.As a result, by the end of the season only about 54 per cent of the 420 ton TAC had been caught.As only seasonal workers are employed for the lobster season from November to April, Wolters said there would be no retrenchments.He said there was some optimism for the next season as lower stocks in Japan should mean better prices.”There are also signs of economic improvement in Japan which would hopefully work its way through to the consumers,” he said.According to Wolters, the industry had been able to cope with the poor weather conditions experienced during the past two years.It was the financial challenges that were causing the problems, he said.Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources scientists are looking at possible causes for the poor lobster catches of the past three years when fishermen struggled filling their quotas.According to an article in a fishing magazine, the biggest problem appears to be that lobsters are not entering the traps, which indicates a change in feeding activities.There are three reasons why lobster won’t feed: If they are moulting [shedding shells], when the oxygen level is very low, and if there is a very strong bottom surge, as is caused by high swells.