Namibian Competition Commission clears horse mackerel sector of price-fixing

The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has concluded two separate investigations into the horse mackerel fishing sector, finding no evidence of anti-competitive behavior or price-fixing.

The first investigation examined allegations that four operators colluded to offer artificially low quota usage fees to rights holders. The NaCC found that rights holders are capable of negotiating varied terms, including profit-sharing and fees above the government reserve price.

A second investigation, launched in 2024, looked into whether 10 operators abused market dominance to keep prices low. Despite initial concerns regarding fees being below the minimum government reserve price, the commission cleared the operators of the allegations.