MARINE TILAPIA
INDUSTRY
MARINE TILAPIA
INDUSTRY
WHAT IS ON OFFER?
The ECRDA is developing a vibrant and thriving marine tilapia industry in the Eastern Cape. The development of the industry should act as a catalyst for food, feed and job security.
Furthermore, at roll-out stage, the industry should drive the improvement of the socio-economic fortunes of historically disadvantaged communities. This is particularly true for those residents located in coastal rural communities.
WHY TILAPIA
The establishment of the marine tilapia industry in rural coastal communities is an exciting prospect because of the Eastern Cape’s excellent potential for thriving aquaculture sector.
Tilapia are recognised throughout the world as a desirable eating fish which has a firm white flesh as well as a bland taste that makes it suitable for diverse cooking and preparation methods. The plan is to establish the marine tilapia industry in a phased approach over a 13 – 15-year period. The final output at the end of this period is 100,000 tonnes a year. This is 100 times the current abalone farming output. An estimated investment of R19,2 billion is required to develop the industry to the desired scale. This figure is comprised of R15 billion for the supporting bulk infrastructure costs as well as R4,2 billion of private investment.
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
Qwaninga Farm 308 in the Qora River in the Mbhashe Local Municipality has been identified as the site for the establishment of a Marine Tilapia Industry Incubator. The incubator will be a support base for the development of the entire industry. The incubator will comprise of a quarantine facility for fish secured from the wild which will be used as breed stock for baby fish in order to stock the fish farms. The incubator will have a genetic enhancement facility which improves the genetic integrity of the fish as well as a training facility which will teach local communities various aquaculture practices, regenerative crop farming and adult basic education.
It will also house a research and development facility as well as managerial offices. The plan is to establish the incubator on a floor area of 30 hectares with farms occupying the majority of this space. There will be a fish farm which will produce 2,000 tonnes of the low production cost Mozambique marine tilapia. There will also be experimental farms involving integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems and experimental farms on crop farming and for training purposes. The land is communally-owned and leased.
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
Talk to us if you would like to participate in this programme and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the development of this industry for coastal communities.
Head Office
Waverley Office Park,
2nd Floor, Chiselhurst,
East London, 5201
Head Office
3-33 Phillip Frame Road,
Waverley Office Park,
2nd Floor, Chiselhurst,
East London, 5201
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