Spanish demand for hake continues
THE LANDING and processing of pelagic or surface-feeding fish has slumped off the Namibian coast in recent years, mainly because of changes in the location of fish stock. This has seen a downslide in the export volumes of pilchards and anchovy.
But other lines have improved and Walvis Bay has played a key role in the valuable export of high-value demersal (deepwater) fish such as hake, orange roughy, monk and sole which are landed frozen from trawlers. These are then exported in containers to niche markets in Australia, Hong Kong and United States.
In addition, the huge Spanish demand for hake continues unchanged, with 85% of the Namibian catch destined for that country. The fish is transhipped in the port of Walvis Bay from cold storage facilities to Spanish-owned reefer vessels which then sail directly to the port of Vigo on the Spanish north-west coast.
Midwater fish, typically horse mackerel, continue to provide an additional solid source of export income, particularly in the African market where it provides a low-cost high protein diet.
