Local musician, The Dogg prepared a fish dish. He was assisted by Mcdishia Mctoro, a learner at Wennie Dup Plessie High School. (Photograph by Lorato Khobetsi)
The National Fish Consumption Day is one of the ways that the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust use to promote the consumption of fish and Otjozondjupa was chosen as the host of the National Fish Consumption Day 2014 at a gala dinner held in Gobabis last week Friday.
“Otjozondjupa was chosen last night to be the host of Fish Consumption Day 2014, we hope to reach more people, we hope for people to come out in numbers and support this day because the day is for the region and its people to become aware that consuming fish can assist people to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Albertina Ngurare, CEO of Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) told The Economist at the 2nd National Fish Consumption Day which was held at the Legare Stadium in Gobabis over the weekend. She said, although there is not a fish shop in that region yet, the Trust which has 13 fish shops in nine regions of the country plans to open one soon in Otjozondjupa. “We do not have a fish shop yet in Otjozondjupa but it is in the pipeline and we will open it up soon. We would like to tell people from that region to prepare themselves as this is an event not to be missed,” she added. She further said the Trust is convinced that the people of Omaheke Region got the message because the Trust has a fish shop here and during the cause of the week we have been doing road shows in about 10 schools in Omaheke. “Therefore we feel the people got the message because they showed up in numbers that’s a sign that people are ready to add fish to their diet. Thank you to the people of Omeheke for turning up in numbers, encourage them to eat fish because it is healthy,” said Ngurare. From January to August 2013, the Trust has distributed 4800 metric tons of horse mackerel compared to 3700 metric tons last year over the same period. As attested by the distribution, the consumption of fish in Namibia is on the increase every year, especially horse mackerel which was also voted the National Fish last year. The Trust has carried out road shows in the southern towns of !Nami#Nüs, Auas, Keetmashoop, Mariental, and Rehoboth, with the aim of promoting fish and educating the public on how to prepare fish. During the road show, the Trust distributed an average 2500kg of fresh fish per town. In addition, the Trust has and will attend various trade fairs in the country in order to create awareness on fish consumption. “The National Fish Day is but one of the ways that the Trust use to promote the consumption of fish, and I would like to urge the entire nation to make it a habit of eating fish the whole day on the National Fish Day, and thereafter fish at least once a day until the end of the month,” said The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernard Esau in his opening remarks at the National Fish Consumption Day celebrations. Hon. Festus Ueitele, Governor of the Omaheke Region said Omaheke is affectionately known as the “Cattle Country”, a region known for its beef producing strides. The level of meat consumption may cause health problems that may lead to death which is alarming. “The Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust is here to ensure that fish, a source of protein is much more accessible and much cheaper, so my good people of Omaheke we have no excuse we should and must start eating fish,” he said.
