Mass mussel harvest an ‘experiment’

OVER 10 tonnes of white mussels have been dug from the sand along a five-kilometre stretch at Paaltjies beach south of Walvis Bay since mid-April as part of a two-year experimental licence granted by the government to a company to test the viability of the resource as a quota-worthy export product.

To date, white mussels have been mostly utilised as a favoured bait by local anglers, with angling shops and service stations selling packets of 10 mussels for about N$30 each.

According to Leon Krauze, who is active in Namibian coastal club and recreational angling and is also an angling shop owner, local traders must have special permits to import white mussels from South Africa to sell locally. Namibian mussels may not be traded in because there is no quota for them.

“What we cannot understand is why we cannot trade with Namibian mussels. They are much better than the ones coming from South Africa. Why can locals not trade in a local resource, and keep the money in Namibia? Why does a foreigner get a permit, and sell it on foreign markets? It does not make sense,” Krauze stressed.

According to him, one sizeable mussel weighs about 50 grammes. This means that 10 tonnes of mussels will be about 200 000 mussels. Thus, 500 000 mussels (about 25 tonnes) – imported from SA – is not a far-fetched annual sales figure locally – predominantly used as bait.

According to José Fernandez of Fermar Seafoods CC, which was given the experimental licence, about eight Namibians collect about 5 000 mussels in two hours a day along the area. The permit does not limit the amount or size of the mussels which can be harvested.

Local anglers get a recreational permit from the fisheries ministry to collect 25 mussels a day – and they pay a hefty fine for every mussel collected over the limit. They also have to be a certain size.

Anglers collecting mussels smaller than the permitted size likewise incur a fine.

The mass harvest of white mussels became an issue when video footage and photos of many crates full of mussels standing on the beach went viral over social media last weekend. Locals are crying foul, calling it a “plundering of scarce resources” shipped out of the country, and making foreigners rich; some claiming that the issuing of an experimental permit was “fishy”.

It was even suggested that white mussels have become scarce along the Namibian coast due to over-harvesting.

Fernandez explained that white mussels (which is a clam species) is harvested and traded around the world, providing jobs to thousands of people, and bringing in major revenue.

“We are just harvesting in a very small area. There is enough of this resource in Namibia,” he said, stating that approximately 10 tonnes have already been harvested and exported, especially to Asian markets – along with other products such as oysters and crayfish.

According to the conditions of the permit, all harvested mussels must be counted and tested, and regular feedback on them given to ministry officials, especially scientists.

He said he understood the frustration of the locals because they are only allowed 25 mussels a day, but explained this was an experimental licence to see how viable the resource is for the stipulation of a future white mussel quota which will benefit many Namibians.

“It is creating jobs and earning export revenue,” he noted, but would not give figures earned to date, saying it was confidential information to the company.

Based on the local price of N$30 for 10 mussels, 200 000 mussels (or 10 tonnes) could be sold locally for N$600 000.

“What I can say is that it is commercially viable,” said Fernandez, but added that scientists in the marine resources sector will ultimately evaluate and suggest to the ministry whether it is in fact a quota species.

“They may even decide from now on how much we can collect. This is all being evaluated as part of the licence conditions,” he continued.

Fernandez said their operations were not illegal, as some suggested. But what irked him most was not the issue of the legality, but the fact that the harvesting workers are being harassed, and accused of stealing Namibian resources. This must stop, he charged.

Fisheries and marine resources executive director, Moses Maurihungirire told this newspaper that the company had permission through the experimental licence, and there are Namibians on board too.

“This is actually a good thing. Through this, we can know whether this resource is economically viable. Had there not been this permit, we would not know. The same was done with other resources, such as hake and horse mackerel,” he added. Maurihungirire said “they have the means, so let the burden be on the foreigners, who can do this experiment for us. Ultimately, it will be Namibia which benefits once it becomes a viable resource.”