Eastern Cape
South Africa
Sector
Aquaculture & Mariculture
ECDC has commissioned a number of feasibility studies into aquaculture and mariculture at different locations in the province, and has taken a leading role in driving zoning and other initiatives designed to unlock opportunities in this sector. Interest is swelling in this niche sector and interested investors are invited to approach the ECDC regarding opportunities in the province.
Aquaculture in the Eastern Cape
Warmer water and relatively inexpensive start-up costs are positioning South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province as an attractive aquaculture investment destination.
Home to the world-renowned Ichthyology Department at Rhodes University, as well as the South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (formerly the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology), the Eastern Cape is a leading developer of mariculture research and technology.
To capitalise on these favourable conditions, as well as on the global boom in aquaculture, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has made a strategic decision to aggressively develop and nurture both the mariculture and inland aquaculture industries in the province.
As the official economic development agency of the provincial government, ECDC is proactively cultivating an enabling economic environment that will support local mariculture and aquaculture operations, while also facilitating investment partnerships in this sector.
South African abalone, Haliotis midae, is one of the top three abalone species worldwide, both in terms of demand and price, while finfish mariculture, though still a relatively new industry in South Africa, is developing rapidly in response to global demand.
“The Eastern Cape is well positioned to take advantage of favourable global conditions in the areas of mariculture and aquaculture development,” says Rory Haschick, ECDC’s Aquaculture, Fisheries & Environmental Management sector specialist. “This is an emergent industry which presents huge growth opportunities, and ECDC is actively identifying and developing investment opportunities in this sector throughout the province.”
