Marine & Coastal Conservation in Namibia (2026)

Quick answer: Marine and coastal conservation in Namibia is moving towards a larger, better-managed network of marine protected areas (MPAs), supported by ecosystem-based fisheries management, seabird conservation and community livelihood programmes. The NIMPA+ project, led by the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), targets 6,275 km² of newly created MPAs, effective management across 9,500 km² of MPAs and benefits for 5,310 people, but implementation still faces inadequate funding, limited marine data, pollution, habitat loss and pressure from fishing.

Last reviewed August 2026. Conservation data changes — see the cited sources for the latest figures.

Why Namibia’s marine conservation matters

Namibia’s Atlantic coast lies within the Benguela Current Marine Ecosystem, a cold, nutrient-rich system that supports highly productive marine waters. Those waters underpin fisheries, coastal tourism and food security, while the coastline and offshore islands provide habitat for seabirds, Cape fur seals and other marine species.

The country’s marine conservation challenge is therefore broader than protecting one charismatic animal. It involves maintaining fish stocks, reducing damage to non-target species and habitats, protecting breeding colonies, improving the condition of coastal ecosystems and ensuring that coastal communities can benefit from conservation and sustainable use.

Namibia’s new Third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 3) covers 2026–2035 and includes terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems. Its marine priorities include expanding area-based conservation through MPAs and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), alongside ecosystem-based fisheries management.

The strategy aligns with the global “30 by 30” direction, but Namibia’s national target is more specific: the NBSAP identifies a goal of conserving and effectively managing 20% of marine and coastal ecosystems by 2030, with ecological representation and equitable governance included in the target. The target is an ambition and policy direction, not evidence that it has already been achieved.

Namibia’s key marine and coastal habitats

The Benguela Current

The Benguela Current’s cold, nutrient-rich water is the ecological foundation of Namibia’s productive marine region. Its importance creates both opportunity and risk: productive waters can support fisheries and tourism, but intense or poorly managed use can place pressure on fish stocks, seabirds and marine habitats.

Marine protected areas and offshore islands

The Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) is the central focus of the NIMPA+ project. The programme brings together NNF, Blue Marine Foundation, GRID-Arendal, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI), COSDEC Benguela and the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB).

NIMPA+ is designed to strengthen MPA governance, develop a management and sustainable-financing plan, support ecological monitoring and help the government expand Namibia’s MPA network. The project also proposes using NIMPA as a model for designating and managing two additional MPAs.

Seabird breeding sites and coastal wildlife

Namibia’s coastal conservation work includes monitoring seabirds, deploying seabird rangers at breeding sites, and rescuing, rehabilitating, rearing and releasing birds such as African penguins. The project also identifies Cape fur seals and elasmobranchs—sharks, rays and skates—as indicator groups for monitoring species and assessing management effectiveness.

Namibia’s plankton-rich coastal waters also support a diverse marine fauna, including southern right whales, according to WWF. Such species are part of the natural value that sustains marine tourism, although the available research does not establish a current national population trend for whales.

The main threats to Namibia’s coast and ocean

Overfishing and pressure on marine biodiversity

The marine sector faces declining biodiversity linked to overfishing, habitat loss and pollution, according to the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). The same assessment identifies limited monitoring of marine species, poor planning and management, limited capacity within the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), and inadequate funding as additional constraints.

Namibia has applied ecosystem-based fisheries management supported by scientific stock assessments, monitoring and regulatory measures. The stated aim is to maintain productive fish stocks while minimising impacts on non-target species and habitats. This is an important management framework, but it does not remove the need for reliable data, enforcement and adaptive decisions.

Pollution and habitat loss

Pollution and habitat loss are identified alongside overfishing as drivers of declining marine biodiversity in Namibia. The research provided does not quantify the national area of habitat lost or provide a single current pollution total, so the scale of these pressures should not be overstated. Their significance lies in how they compound fishing pressure and weak monitoring.

Climate change and sea-level rise

Namibia’s coastal zone and fisheries are among the sectors identified as particularly vulnerable to climate change. The country’s climate risks include sea-level rise and changing conditions affecting the coastal zone and fisheries. Climate change can interact with existing pressures rather than acting alone: changing marine conditions, resource stress and livelihood impacts may make conservation and fisheries decisions more difficult.

UNDP Namibia describes healthy marine ecosystems as important to the economy, food security and the livelihoods of thousands of people. That connection makes marine conservation a development issue as well as a biodiversity issue.

Finance and limited capacity

ODI reports that biodiversity financing in Namibia comes mainly from international donors, the national government and private-sector actors, with donor finance playing an important role in activities that may not attract commercial investment. Tourism can provide conservation revenue, but ODI also warns that relying heavily on tourism creates financial risk, particularly when shocks reduce visitor numbers.

WWF estimates that Namibia will need NAD 2.3 billion (US$128 million) to establish a proposed 159,992 km² new marine protected area. WWF also reports that NAD 200 million (US$10 million) annually will be required at least until 2027 for communal conservancies, community fisheries reserves, community forests and community associations. These are funding requirements, not amounts already secured.

What is being done: programmes, organisations and protected areas

NIMPA+ and marine protected-area expansion

NIMPA+ runs from April 2023 to March 2028. Its total project cost is €7,051,734, including a €3,647,748 Blue Action Fund grant and €3,403,986 in match funding. The project’s work combines spatial protection with governance, monitoring, seabird conservation, sustainable fisheries and livelihood diversification.

NIMPA+ objective	Research-supported target
Newly created MPAs	6,275 km²
Effectively managed MPAs	9,500 km²
People expected to benefit	5,310
Project period	April 2023–March 2028

These targets illustrate the difference between declaring a protected area and managing it effectively. Management plans, ecological monitoring, community engagement, enforcement and sustainable finance are all part of the NIMPA+ approach.

Fisheries management and marine monitoring

Namibia’s biodiversity strategy links marine protection to sustainable use of marine resources, especially fisheries that support the national economy and coastal livelihoods. Scientific stock assessments, monitoring and regulatory measures are intended to support productive fish stocks and reduce harm to non-target species and habitats.

NIMPA+ complements this system by generating data on indicator species such as Cape fur seals and elasmobranchs. The project’s stated purpose is to inform conservation management and assess effectiveness around NIMPA and in future MPAs.

Seabird rescue and community skills

Seabird conservation measures under NIMPA+ include monitoring plans, breeding-site rangers and rehabilitation work for African penguins. The partnership with SANCCOB and NAMCOB reflects a practical conservation model: field protection, species monitoring and rescue capacity are combined rather than treated as separate activities.

The project also includes COSDEC Benguela, reflecting an emphasis on skills development and coastal livelihoods. Its livelihood objectives include diversifying income, supporting food security and empowering women and vulnerable people through local markets and tourism-related employment.

Community conservation and tourism’s role

Namibia’s National Tourism Policy 2008 and National Sustainable Tourism Growth and Development Strategy 2016–2026 connect tourism with conservation and benefits for rural communities in protected areas. The Ocean Panel describes benefits such as employment, cash income, social projects and in-kind support for conservancies, including vulnerable and disenfranchised community members.

For marine conservation, this principle matters because protected areas cannot succeed through maps and regulations alone. Coastal residents and local organisations need a meaningful role in governance, monitoring and livelihood planning. The NIMPA+ project explicitly includes community engagement and livelihood diversification rather than focusing only on ecological protection.

Tourism is not automatically sustainable. The Ocean Panel recommends a stronger focus on sustainable marine and coastal tourism, while ODI cautions that dependence on tourism revenue creates vulnerability when visitor numbers fall. Responsible tourism should therefore complement—not replace—public funding, fisheries management and direct support for local conservation organisations.

Travellers interested in a Swakopmund beach holiday or a broader Namibia self drive safari can choose operators that explain how they manage waste, wildlife encounters, marine activities and local employment. Travellers can also book conservation-supporting safaris on SafariFind, while recognising that a booking is not proof of a project’s conservation impact unless the operator provides transparent evidence.

Results and setbacks: an honest 2026 assessment

Namibia has a credible policy and partnership foundation for marine conservation. NBSAP 3 provides a 2026–2035 framework; ecosystem-based fisheries management is supported by scientific assessment and regulation; and NIMPA+ has defined targets, named partners and a multi-year work plan.

There are also signs of institutional and financial investment beyond a single project. WWF reports that a US$9 million Global Environment Facility investment and an additional US$15 million private-foundation commitment were secured for a long-term conservation funding mechanism. WWF says US$49 million of a US$70–80 million donor goal had been pledged, with a proposed endowment intended to pay about US$2 million per year to Namibian conservation partners once finalised. These figures describe pledged or planned finance and should not be read as fully operational annual funding.

The setbacks are substantial. ODI identifies declining biodiversity, overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, limited species data, weak planning and management, inadequate MFMR capacity and insufficient funding. NIMPA+ targets also remain future-facing: creating an MPA or improving management requires implementation, monitoring and equitable governance, not only designation.

Community-led conservation faces its own financing challenge. A 2026 Mongabay report identifies NNF among African organisations working across seascapes and landscapes, but describes local marine organisations as underfunded and often filling gaps left by state and international systems. Direct, reliable finance and stronger local decision-making will be central to whether Namibia’s marine ambitions produce durable results.

For wider context on Namibia’s conservation model, read SafariFind’s guide to how safari tourism funds conservation in Namibia and its overview of conservation organisations protecting Namibia’s wildlife.

How travellers can help responsibly

• Choose operators with clear local benefits. Ask whether guides, staff, community organisations and locally owned businesses receive income from the activity. Tourism policy in Namibia links protected-area tourism with employment, cash income and community benefits.
• Support evidence-based conservation. Prefer organisations that publish objectives, monitoring methods, partners and financial information. NIMPA+ provides an example of a programme with named partners and measurable targets.
• Respect seabirds, seals and breeding sites. Keep distance, follow guide instructions and never enter restricted areas. Seabird breeding-site protection and monitoring are explicit conservation priorities.
• Reduce pollution. Carry reusable items, avoid leaving waste on beaches and ask marine operators how they handle fuel, wastewater and plastics. Pollution is one of the pressures identified in Namibia’s marine sector.
• Do not treat wildlife encounters as guaranteed. Responsible operators should prioritise animal welfare and habitat protection over close approaches or speed.
• Spread spending locally. Use local guides, community enterprises, craft sellers and accommodation where appropriate. The Ocean Panel identifies these connected tourism value chains as part of Namibia’s coastal tourism economy.

Conclusion

Marine and coastal conservation in Namibia in 2026 is characterised by a clear direction but unfinished implementation. The country is expanding its MPA ambitions, strengthening fisheries and seabird monitoring, and connecting conservation with coastal livelihoods through NIMPA+, NBSAP 3 and community-oriented tourism policy.

The decisive tests will be whether protected areas receive long-term finance, whether marine data and enforcement improve, whether fisheries remain sustainable, and whether coastal communities and local organisations have real influence and reliable resources. Namibia’s ocean conservation story is promising, but its success should be measured by ecological outcomes and equitable governance—not by protected-area designations alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current status of marine conservation in Namibia in 2026?

Namibia is expanding marine protected areas and improving management through NIMPA+, while NBSAP 3 sets a 2026–2035 framework for marine conservation. Major challenges remain, including overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, limited monitoring and inadequate funding.

What is the NIMPA+ project in Namibia?

NIMPA+ is a marine conservation project led by the Namibia Nature Foundation and partners including Blue Marine Foundation and GRID-Arendal. It targets 6,275 km² of new MPAs, effective management across 9,500 km² and benefits for 5,310 people.

Which organisation leads marine conservation under NIMPA+?

The Namibia Nature Foundation leads NIMPA+, working with Blue Marine Foundation, GRID-Arendal, SANCCOB, SAERI, COSDEC Benguela and NAMCOB.

What are the biggest threats to Namibia’s marine ecosystems?

The main documented threats are overfishing, habitat loss and pollution, compounded by limited marine-species data, weak planning and management, limited MFMR capacity and inadequate funding.

How does climate change affect Namibia’s coast?

Namibia identifies sea-level rise, the coastal zone and fisheries as climate-vulnerable sectors. Climate change can compound existing pressures on marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal livelihoods.

What marine species are protected in Namibia?

Marine conservation programmes monitor Cape fur seals, elasmobranchs and seabirds, including African penguins. WWF also identifies southern right whales among the marine life supported by Namibia’s plankton-rich coastal waters.

How does tourism support marine conservation in Namibia?

Tourism can create employment, cash income, social projects and in-kind benefits for communities in protected areas, while visitor spending supports coastal tourism value chains. However, tourism revenue is vulnerable to downturns and cannot replace public and donor conservation finance.

What can travellers do to support marine conservation in Namibia?

Choose operators that provide transparent local benefits, follow wildlife-distance rules, avoid leaving waste, respect seabird and seal breeding sites, and support locally owned guides and businesses.

What is Namibia’s marine conservation target for 2030?

NBSAP 3 identifies a target of conserving and effectively managing 20% of Namibia’s marine and coastal ecosystems by 2030 through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.

How much funding is needed for Namibia’s proposed new marine protected area?

WWF estimates that Namibia will need NAD 2.3 billion, or US$128 million, to establish the proposed 159,992 km² new marine protected area.