Windhoek: Government has generated over N$29.1 million from the auctioning of pilchard and monkfish quotas under its Governmental Objective Fishing Quota programme. Governmental objective quotas are a legally recognised category of fishing quotas under the Marine Resources Amendment Act of 2015. They may be used by Government or the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, subject to available quantities within the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Cabinet directives, to support government projects and programmes.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the auctioning of the quotas forms part of Government's efforts to allocate available fishing quotas through competitive bidding while generating revenue for the State. Government has previously said the process is intended to promote transparency and ensure broader benefits from the country's fisheries resources.

The latest auctions generated N$13.87 million from 3 500 metric tonnes (MT) of pilchard and N$15.26 million from 1 000 MT of monkfish. The results were jointly released by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform on Wednesday.

The pilchard auction, held on 04 September 2026, attracted two bids for 3 500 MT, with the entire subscribed quantity allocated. A total of 5 000 MT was offered at a reserve price of N$2 700 per MT. The auction recorded a marginal price of N$3 500 per MT and a highest price of N$4 310 per MT. The weighted average price stood at N$3 962.86 per MT, generating N$13.87 million, including N$2 000 in application fees. However, 1 500 MT of the 5 000 MT offered remained unallocated.

The monkfish auction, held on 17 July 2026, attracted six bids for a combined 2 500 MT against the 1 000 MT offered. The entire 1 000 MT was allocated, generating N$15.26 million, including N$6 000 in application fees. The quota attracted a marginal price of N$12 000 per MT and a highest price of N$15 400 per MT, while the weighted average price stood at N$15 250 per MT, above the reserve price of N$10 000 per MT.

According to the ministries, the subscription level for the monkfish auction indicated strong demand, with the quantity subscribed more than double the amount offered. In contrast, 1 500 MT of the pilchard quota remained unallocated after bids were received for only 3 500 MT of the 5 000 MT offered.