Namibia eyes salmon industry boost after Norway seminar
Namibia is stepping up efforts to develop a domestic salmon farming industry following a high-level seminar held in Bergen, widely regarded as the global hub of salmon aquaculture.
The two-day seminar, held from 27 to 28 April under the theme "Unlocking Namibia's Salmon Industry – Opportunity to Industrialisation", was jointly organised by the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) and Namibia Atlantic Salmon Holdings (NASH). It follows an earlier engagement hosted in Windhoek in February.
The Namibian delegation brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Atlantic Aquaculture Company (AAC), Omankete Fishing, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The first day focused on practical exposure to Norway's advanced aquaculture systems. Delegates visited facilities across the salmon value chain, starting with an industry visitors' centre that provided insights into the sector's history, biology and commercial evolution.
This was followed by a ferry trip to a freshwater smolt hatchery, where participants observed salmon at early developmental stages before their transfer to ocean-based farming systems. The day concluded with a boat visit to offshore net pens, where Norwegian operators demonstrated modern fish farming technologies and techniques.
The second day featured formal presentations from Norwegian industry leaders, offering insights into best practices, investment models and regulatory frameworks underpinning one of the world's most successful aquaculture industries.
A key outcome of the seminar was the signing of a share underwriting agreement between NIDA and NASH. The agreement builds on a heads of agreement concluded in Windhoek in December 2025 and signals tangible progress towards establishing a salmon farming sector in Namibia.
Organisers described the Norway engagement as a "resounding success", noting that it had strengthened collaboration with international partners and advanced Namibia's ambitions to diversify its economy through aquaculture-led industrialisation.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to position Namibia as a player in high-value seafood production, leveraging its coastal resources and strategic partnerships to unlock new economic opportunities.
