Vigo, 23 June 2022 – The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia, Derek James Klazen, is visiting today several facilities of the Nueva Pescanova Group in Galicia. In the morning, he visited the aquaculture in the turbot breeding plant in Mougás (Baiona); he got to know the new technologies applied, the transformation processes, the quality and food safety in the industrial centres of Porriño and Chapela; and in the afternoon he will go to O Grove, where he will learn about the research in sustainability, health and nutrition of farmed species carried out by the Pescanova Biomarine Center. In this Aquaculture R&D&I centre, the multinational has managed to complete the life cycle of the octopus and in addition it also has a Museum to raise awareness about the care and future of marine ecosystems, opened to the public since late 2021.

The Namibian delegation was received at the headquarters of the Nueva Pescanova Group by the Chairman of the Nueva Pescanova Group, José María Benavent; the CEO, Ignacio González; and the Regional Minister of the Sea of the Xunta de Galicia, Rosa Quintana. During his visit, he also had the opportunity to learn about all the products and other activities of the Group, which through its subsidiary NovaNam, dedicated to hake fishing and processing, employs more than 2,200 people in Namibia at Lüderitz and Walvis Bay.

The Nueva Pescanova Group started its activity in Namibia 32 years ago. It has a fleet of 11 vessels in the country and owns the largest fish processing factory in Africa. In the last three years, it has invested over 39 million euros in the country, mainly in the construction of three new factory vessels, in the continuous improvement of processes and in quality control. Committed to respect and care for the environment, the company has installed photovoltaic plants in the Lüderitz factories, which generate 317,000 kilowatts per year, reducing its carbon footprint by 3,900 MT, the equivalent of planting 400,000 trees.

Among other aspects related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Nueva Pescanova’s hake products in Namibia have the MSC Sustainable Fishing certification, and it is the first company to initiate the FISH Standard for Crew audit, which ensures compliance with on-board work standards. Moreover, it contributes to food security plans by supplying protein to the local population, donating annually around 23,000 fish rations to local populations.

The training and generation change plan allows Novanam to have local personnel in management positions, including crews that are often 100% Namibian. Moreover, the first woman with the title of ship captain in the country has been working in the company for almost 20 years. The company also runs a kindergarten in Lüderitz, where around 120 children receive schooling each year, allowing its employees to balance work and childcare.

During the pandemic, Novanam carried out more than 3,000 Covid tests and became the first COVID vaccination centre of the Nueva Pescanova Group, as a result of the collaboration with the Namibian government, beating the country’s vaccination average.