Eat fish for a better life

Since its inception over 16 years ago, the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) has become an integral institution within the fishing industry.

The NFCPT is tasked by the government to boost the consumption of fish.

Along with its many partners, which mostly include fishing companies, the NFCPT continues to host a number of roadshows nationwide aimed at educating Namibians about the health benefits of eating fish.

The state-owned company’s other mandate is to improve the affordability and availability of fish.

The trust’s mandate doesn’t end at the sale of fish; it further extends assistance to fellow countrymen and -women through its corporate social responsibility initiatives by providing donations and sponsorships.

The trust holds cooking demonstrations during its regional fish-consumption promotion activities at trade fairs and expos, cooking seminars and its very own National Fish Consumption Day, which has been hosted annually since 2012.

The trust also sells fish, particularly horse mackerel, hake and various by-catches. It operates 16 fish shops in 12 regions.

During the 2017/18 financial year, the trust sold 7 071 tonnes of fish, up from 6 645 tonnes during 2016/17.

The trust ensures that all its retail outlets are always fully stocked, with six refrigerated trucks that are on the road almost every day to deliver fish.

The trust has been mandated by the ministry of fisheries to increase the national fish consumption from an average of 11.4 kg to 21.4 kg per person per year.

To achieve this target, the trust has embarked upon targeted efforts to partner with the private sector.