Luis Planas meets with Namibia's Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources

The minister previously received the Spanish ambassador to Namibia and Botswana, Antonio Javier Romera.

Luis Planas welcomed the visit of the Namibian Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources to Spain and congratulated him on his election as co-chair of the interactive dialogue specifically dedicated to sustainable fisheries, which will take place during the United Nations Conference on Oceans, to be held in Lisbon in the last week of June.

Following this meeting, Derek James Klazen visited the Ministry's Fisheries Control Centre in Madrid to learn about the computer system used to monitor illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

For decades, the fisheries sector has brought Spain and Namibia together. In that time, several Spanish companies have established themselves in the country, which has contributed to the creation of thousands of skilled jobs among the coastal communities of Walvis Bay and Luderich.

An important trade relationship has also been consolidated between the two countries, enabling Spain to obtain supplies of important products such as frozen hake fillets and monkfish. It is the third largest African fishing country in terms of production and exports after Morocco and Mauritania.

He will also visit Vigo, which is the main port of import for Namibian fish products. The Galician city is also a reference in the fishing industry, a base for numerous equipment manufacturing companies, ships and port infrastructures.

Non official translation