WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2016 25 The Size and Shape of South African Aquaculture Marine aquaculture in South Africa is dominated by molluscs — abalone (Haliotis midae), Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis and Chromomytilus meridionalis) — with finfish an emerging industry. Dusky kob (Argyrosomus japonicus) is currently the only finfish being grown commercially, although other species such as yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) are being researched for production potential. Seaweed (Ulva spp. and Gracilaria spp.) is farmed as abalone feed. Although the marine sub-sector operates across just 36 farms, compared to 193 freshwater operations, it accounts for approximately two-thirds of production volume and more than 80 percent of value, due mainly to the contribution of the well-established, high-value abalone sub-sector. Trout (Onchorynchus mykiss and Salmo trutta) leads overall aquaculture production in terms of volume, narrowly overtaking abalone, although abalone far outstrips it on value. It is the most established freshwater sector, while increasing attention is being paid to growing the emerging tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus, O.niloticus and Tilapia rendalli), catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and marron crayfish (Cherax tenuimanus) sub-sectors. Ornamental species, mainly common and koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), are also cultivated on a small scale, but are not discussed in the profiles below, which focus on species cultivated for human consumption. Abalone The power-house of South African aquaculture, abalone is produced primarily for export to Asia and outshines all other aquaculture products with a 76 percent share of the overall value generated by the sector, as well as leading in product value (US$ 3050/kg), employment, and production volume. Production increased by 32 percent year-on-year in 2013 to a record 1,470 t, accounting for almost half of marine aquaculture production and about a third of the sector in total. Abalone’s dominance reflects the critical mass that has been achieved through advanced production technology, a premium market niche, an established service industry and coordinated public sector support. Commercial cultivation of the species is based on locally-developed technology, the result of a sustained research and development partnership between industry, government and universities. The most recent innovation to come out of this collaboration is a novel approach to undertake abalone ranching in fishery areas depleted by poaching and in the west coast kelp beds where abalone do not naturally occur. The DAFF has promulgated abalone ranching guidelines and issued experimental permits to companies to seed hatchery-reared abalone into defined areas where they have the right to guard and harvest the abalone resource. South African abalone has a reputation for quality due to its superior flavor, texture and size, securing it a market position as a niche, premium product in Asia. Strong demand from China for farmed South African abalone is stimulating new investment in farms, with production expected to quadruple within the next decade. Meanwhile, competition is increasing from massive growth in Chinese and Korean farmed abalone (estimated 100,000 t of mainly Haliotis discus hannai), pressuring prices downward. These trends require the South African abalone industry to explore new markets, strengthen economic value and diversify their product ranges and formats, and cooperate in developing a brand strategy to distinguish South African abalone on global markets and reinforce its position as a premium, luxury product. Of 20 operational abalone aquaculture farms, 12 are land-based with independent hatcheries, while four operate grow-out facilities only. There is one sea-cage farm and two ranching operations. Trout South African trout producers are typically small, familyowned operations, with only a handful of the 47 operational farms producing more than 20 t towards the 1,522 t recorded for the species in 2013. Technology used for cultivation includes raceway, pond, cage and recirculating systems. Trout farming is restricted to cool mountain catchment streams in the coastal Western Cape and inland Mpumalanga provinces, but fish growth and production are limited by water availability. The game is changing, though. Two new large-scale trout operations on the Katse Dam in neighboring Lesotho produced approximately 1800 t in 2014, with growth capacity projected at 6000 t. An additional operation on the Mohale Dam, also part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, has yet to come on stream. Two (CONTINUED ON PAGE 26) Oyster baskets, Saldanha Bay. Mussel working barge, Saldanha Bay.
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