Calls for the government to lift the moratorium on pilchards are getting louder, following reports of illegal pilchard fishing near Walvis Bay.

The calls are also based on surveys indicating that the pilchards' biomass has increased, showing signs of recovery over the past four years.

Sporadic work has become the norm at various pilchard canneries at Walvis Bay for a few years.

The government banned the harvesting of pilchards in 2015 for the species to recover from over-exploitation. 

Etosha, Princess and Gendev are the companies heavily affected by the ban.

A survey done by the Norwegian vessel Friedhof Nasen indicates an estimated biomass of 1 million tonnes for pilchards, a sign of recovery since the market's collapse in the 1990s.

There have also been reports of horse mackerel operators illegally landing pilchards under the pretext of bycatch.

The Wet Landed Small Pelagic Association says the government should consider these events and accordingly lift the moratorium.

The Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister, Inge Zaamwani, said the ministry will draft a response to the concerns raised.