Annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival aims to make crayfish affordable

Staff Reporter

THE Annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival has become one of Lüderitz’s primary attractions, witnessing a significant surge in popularity since its formation in 2008.

This was highlighted by Sydney Martin, the Patron of Lüderitz Crayfish Festival, who confirmed that the 17th Annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival will take place from 29th April to 5th May 2024. The festival will be held under the theme “Riding the waves towards a sustainable future,” and Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is set to deliver the keynote speech on 3rd May 2024.

Martin explained that the well-known festival aims to make crayfish, typically a pricey restaurant item, accessible at affordable prices to festival attendees. He attributed this accessibility to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, which subsidises the crayfish to guarantee affordability.

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“Crayfish is very expensive in any restaurant. The crayfish is being subsidised by the Ministry of Fisheries, so that crayfish can become affordable and you don’t have to pay this huge amount of money that you have to pay at restaurants. So, you’ll get valuable food at a very low rate,” he explained.

Martin emphasised that the annual festival serves not only as an attraction to the coastal town but also as a significant revenue generator. He revealed that the funds generated are invested in enhancing the town’s overall appeal, contributing to the goal of attracting more people to Lüderitz.

“The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources provide a quota and then the quota is caught, and the revenue stream that is received is then being deposited in the Lüderitz Crayfish Festival account. They use those funds to attract more people down to Lüderitz,” Martin said.

While the Annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival seeks to highlight the significance of Lüderitz’s crayfish industry, Martin encouraged prospective festival attendees to also explore and enjoy other attractions in Lüderitz while there. He specifically highlighted Diaz Point, the waterfront, and a world-class Maritime Museum as possible activities.