Municipal authorities and government officials have issued an urgent safety advisory to central coast communities following alarming reports and circulating images of dead fish appearing offshore and washing up along the shoreline.
In a public notice released this week, Ignasia Florencia Neis, Acting Chief Executive of the Municipality of Henties Bay, strongly warned residents and visitors against collecting, consuming, or trading any fish found along the coast.
“This precautionary measure is being taken while the relevant ministry officials conduct investigations and await the results of the necessary test to determine whether the fish is safe for human consumption,” she added.
On Thursday, Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, confirmed that the ministry is aware of reports and circulating images of dead fish found offshore and along the Namibian coastline, particularly near Henties Bay.
“The ministry is treating these reports with the necessary seriousness. At this stage, however, it would be premature to speculate on the cause or extent of the reported fish mortalities before the appropriate scientific assessments have been conducted,” he said.
Muyunda urged the public not to make assumptions or spread unverified information regarding the cause of the fish deaths. The ministry will provide further updates as verified scientific findings become available.
