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October 2026
The Namibian
Damian Schreiberis a marine conservation communications, field and research officer atOcean Conservation Namibia
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“Damian Schreiber is a marine conservation communications, field and research officer at Ocean Conservation Namibia; he is involved in seal rescues, education outreach, and beach clean-ups.”
Ocean Conservation Namibiaargued thatmarine phosphate mining has many potentially catastrophic side effects
Source
“The project has garnered opposition from environmental groups such as Ocean Conservation Namibia, which has argued that marine phosphate mining has many potentially catastrophic side effects.”
Ocean Conservation Namibiadescribed ECC issuance asbad news for Namibia and marine conservation
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“In a Facebook post, the organisation describes it as a "huge development" and says the clearance is bad news for Namibia, the Benguela ecosystem, the fishing industry, and marine conservation.”
Ocean Conservation Namibiadescribedthe environmental clearance as 'bad news' for fishing industry and marine conservation
Source
“Ocean Conservation Namibia described the issuance of the environmental clearance as "bad news" for Namibia's fishing industry and marine conservation.”
Ocean Conservation Namibiaargued thatdredging could destroy marine habitats and create sediment plumes affecting water quality
Source
“Ocean Conservation Namibia has argued that dredging the seabed could destroy marine habitats and create sediment plumes that may spread over large areas, potentially affecting water quality and marine life.”
Mass pilchard washouts are occurring along South African and Namibian coastlines, including areas from Cape Town to Henties Bay in Namibia. Scientists have detected sardine herpesvirus in fish, but it remains unclear whether the virus is causing deaths or making fish vulnerable to other stressors; testing of Namibian samples is underway, and authorities urge against collecting or eating washed-up fish due to health risks.
Mass pilchard washouts are occurring along South African and Namibian coastlines, including areas from Cape Town to Henties Bay in Namibia. Scientists have detected sardine herpesvirus in fish, but it remains unclear whether the virus is causing deaths or making fish vulnerable to other stressors; testing of Namibian samples is underway, and authorities urge against collecting or eating washed-up fish due to health risks.
Conservationists and volunteers conducting the annual Walvis Bay Wetland Winter Bird Count in August recorded just over 87,000 birds, including 51,000 flamingos. The winter and summer counts, conducted annually via citizen science, provide long-term data on bird populations and the health of Walvis Bay Lagoon.
The Minister of Agriculture is challenging an Environmental Clearance Certificate granted to marine phosphate mining company Namibian Marine Phosphate, citing a moratorium placed on phosphate mining in 2013, while the Environment Minister said the Environmental Management Act process will take its course and environmental groups oppose the project citing ecosystem damage risks.
Namibia is advancing sustainable use of marine resources through an integrated management approach that supports local communities and fair economic benefits while protecting ocean health. Current ocean industries include fishing, aquaculture, mining, shipping, and tourism, with future opportunities in renewable energy, marine biotechnology, and carbon trading.
The environmental commissioner issued an environmental clearance certificate on 5 August for Knowledge Katti's Namibia Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project offshore Namibia, valid until 5 August 2029. The decision has triggered opposition from the IPC and conservationists who have raised long-running environmental and industry concerns.
Namibian Marine Phosphate received an Environmental Clearance Certificate for its Sandpiver Project, an offshore marine phosphate mining operation, despite sustained opposition from Namibia's fishing industry and environmental groups who warn of potential damage to marine ecosystems and fisheries.
The Namibian government has temporarily allowed horse mackerel fishing in waters as shallow as 150 metres between Walvis Bay and Lüderitz until April 2027, relaxing a decades-old 200-metre isobath guideline that has protected young fish. Conservation experts warn the decision lacks sufficient scientific evidence and could harm both the ocean and the fishing industry, particularly as Namibia depends heavily on horse mackerel and hake following the collapse of sardine and anchovy fisheries.
André Ross claimed his fifth consecutive Brandberg Backyard Ultra victory, breaking the men's course record with 25 laps as both men's and women's course records fell during the fifth edition of the race held in Uis.
The Brandberg Backyard Ultra, an endurance event with no fixed finish line where runners complete 6.706 km loops hourly until only one remains, takes place on Saturday at Brandberg Rest Camp near Uis. André Ross, who has won all four previous editions and holds the course record of 22 laps (147.5 km), returns as defending champion, with elite competition expected from ultra-runners across the region.
The fifth RMB Brandberg Backyard Ultra will take place Saturday at Brandberg Rest Camp near Uis. Athletes complete 6.706 km loops every hour until only one runner remains capable of finishing within the allotted time; André Ross has won all four previous editions and holds the course record of 22 laps (147.5 km).
Ocean Conservation Namibia reports that plastic pollution poses a serious threat to marine life along Namibia's coast. The organisation has rescued 265 entangled Cape fur seals by end of June, with most affected seals unable to survive without intervention.
Namibia is home to 87 species of sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras, of which 29 are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. Despite their importance to marine ecosystems in maintaining balance and supporting fish stocks, research on these species in Namibia remains limited.
Small-scale fishers in Namibia support more than 1,500 seasonal and full-time workers and land about 3,000 tonnes worth N$27.6 million annually, but remain overlooked in policy and lack legal recognition under the Marine Resources Act, which classifies only commercial and recreational fishers and effectively prohibits small-scale fishers from selling their catch.
'Unseen Line', a 13-minute documentary by Loft Arts, follows rescuers protecting seals along Namibia's coastline from ocean pollution including fishing lines and plastic waste. The film premieres on 8 June, World Ocean Day, and features Ocean Conservation Namibia's work rescuing 876 seals in 2023 and 791 in 2024.
A Cape Fur Seal in South Africa was confirmed infected with avian influenza in early April, marking the first recorded case of bird flu in the species. Scientists now worry the virus could spread to Namibia's seal populations through seabirds and contaminated water, especially given that seals and seabirds travel long distances along the coast between the two countries.
A female African penguin was successfully released back into the wild on Halifax Island near Lüderitz after 49 days of care by the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds. With fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs globally and the species listed as Critically Endangered in October 2024, Namibia's penguin population has declined more than 82% since 1979.
Namibia's coastline hosts scavenging species including brown hyenas, black-backed jackals, and vultures that play vital roles in maintaining ecological balance by feeding on marine carcasses. These 'beach cleaners' prevent disease spread and facilitate nutrient exchange between ocean and land, though they also face challenges including rabies transmission and endangerment.
Warming oceans and changes in the Benguela Current ecosystem—including shifts in the Angola-Benguela Front and so-called 'Benguela Niño' events—are preventing recovery of sardine, hake, and lobster populations and endangering seabirds, putting coastal livelihoods and fishing businesses at Walvis Bay and Lüderitz at risk. Long-term research is needed to better understand these trends and adapt management to protect both wildlife and coastal communities.
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.