Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Namibian Fishing Industry and their Impact on Community Development

Abstract

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform in Namibia considers Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities as a major criterion for the allocation of fishing quotas, encouraging all fishing rights holders to implement sound CSR strategies for benefit-sharing with communities. Despite this encouragement, CSR remains voluntary, leading to concerns about the social implications of these initiatives on local communities and limited evidence of how fishing rights holders integrate CSR into their business operations. This study investigated the practices of CSR among fishing companies operating in Walvis Bay, Namibia, aiming to determine their contribution to voluntary regulatory compliance, the incorporation of CSR practices into business operations, and their engagement with locals to support community development initiatives. The research employed a descriptive mixed-methods approach, utilising open ended questionnaires completed by 31 respondents from fishing companies and interviews with 20 community members. Findings indicated that most CSR initiatives by fishing companies primarily promote social, philanthropic, and ethical considerations. Companies utilize various strategies, such as having clear plans and guidelines for CSR activity planning but face major challenges such as financial constraints and a lack of expertise during implementation. Major finding revealed that support provided by these companies to communities is largely short-term and not sustainable to meet the growing needs of the community. The study recommends that fishing companies involve communities at all levels of CSR planning and implementation to enhance effectiveness and sustainability.