Namibia Minute.
24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Event

High Seas Treaty

Also known as: International Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction · Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction

Tourism & Environment

Namibia urged to finalize ocean policies before 2026 conference

The News

Marine expert Rod Braby has urged Namibia to finalize its Blue Economy Policy, complete marine spatial planning, and accede to the High Seas Treaty ahead of the 2026 Our Ocean Conference in Kenya. Braby noted that Namibia currently has only 1.6% of its exclusive economic zone under marine protected area management, though the government has committed to increasing this to 11% within two years.

9 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 9 April

  1. Namibia urged to finalize ocean policies before 2026 conference

    Marine expert Rod Braby has urged Namibia to finalize its Blue Economy Policy, complete marine spatial planning, and accede to the High Seas Treaty ahead of the 2026 Our Ocean Conference in Kenya. Braby noted that Namibia currently has only 1.6% of its exclusive economic zone under marine protected area management, though the government has committed to increasing this to 11% within two years.

    9 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

  1. High Seas Treaty enters force, protecting global ocean commons

    The High Seas Treaty, which establishes the first-ever framework to create marine-protected areas on the high seas covering nearly two-thirds of the ocean, has come into force. Malawi became the first landlocked country to ratify the treaty in February 2025, emphasizing that ocean stewardship belongs to all countries regardless of proximity to the sea, as healthy oceans are essential for global food security, climate stability, and carbon absorption.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 February

  1. Abandoned fishing gear kills marine life in Namibian waters

    Ghost gear—lost or discarded fishing equipment—persists in oceans for centuries, trapping and killing marine life including seals, dolphins, and whales. In Namibia, about half of the seals rescued by Ocean Conservation Namibia in 2025 were entangled in such gear, and globally approximately 640,000 tonnes of ghost gear enter the ocean annually, making up roughly 10% of all ocean plastic.

    20 February 2026 · The Namibian →

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