Environmental Affairs and Tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has announced that the South African marine aquaculture (mariculture) industry would receive tax breaks, grants, credits and other fiscal measures in order to stimulate production. Additionally, rights to undertake marine aquaculture activities will be issued on a long-term, 20-year basis so as to foster local and international investor confidence.

Van Schalkwyk noted that the contribution of capture fisheries to food security and employment had declined since the 1950s, in part due to resource overexploitation. The trend has been intensified by changes in the distribution of certain fish species. Thirty years ago, 70% of West Coast rock lobster was caught along the coast of the Northern Cape, whereas today 90% of it is caught in the vicinity of Cape Town.

The minister noted that a key principle was that the role of the government was to facilitate and support the support the industry, which will be private-sector driven. The new policy will be complemented by the Marine Aquaculture Development Plan (MADP) which outlines strategies for implementation of the policy. Guidelines to establish and manage particular forms of marine aquaculture – including new activities such as sea ranching, stock enhancement and sea-based cage farming – are also to be developed.

Marine and fresh water aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing means of food production globally. Between 1950 and 2004, the annual rate of growth stood at 8.8% - though Africa contributes less than 1% of this, and South Africa in turn makes up only around 1% of African production.

Local aquaculture production has seen an increase over the last ten years, the most significant growth being with abalone farming. In 1996 total production of farmed abalone amounted to less than 100kg, whereas today it has increased to around 900 tons. The export value of the production came to R175-million in 2006.

Abalone farming continues to expand, largely due to higher profit margins and South Africa is currently regarded as the leading producer of cultured abalone. On the other hand, Van Schalkwyk noted that growth in other marine aquaculture sectors, such as mussels, oysters, prawns and sea weed, and been modest, pointing out that the country should focus on high-value resources.