South Africa falling short of aquaculture potential, deputy minister admits

Narend Singh announces $5-million grant to help unlock the sector's growth

SOUTH AFRICA: Speaking in the Eastern Cape yesterday, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, admitted that the country is failing to capitalise on Africa's position as the continent with the highest growth prospects in global aquaculture.

Addressing delegates during the opening of the 16th Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa (AASA) biennial conference, Singh said the country's national production statistics, to be published next month in the South Africa Aquaculture Yearbook, showed the sector had “yet to meet its growth potential.”

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aquaculture is now the fastest-growing sector in global food production, providing more aquatic animals for human consumption than capture fisheries, with Africa holding the highest growth prospects worldwide.

New funding to close the gap

In response, Singh announced that South Africa had secured Global Environment Facility (GEF-8) funding of just under US$ 5m over five years for a new programme, “Catalysing Sustainable Aquaculture Systems for South Africa.” The programme follows an extensive development process involving government, industry, academic institutions, small-scale producers and communities.

Singh said the funding would target sustainable farming of low-trophic warm-water species such as sea urchins, aimed at unlocking aquaculture potential in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. He said the programme recognised that aquaculture was “not only about production, but about generating livelihoods, transforming food systems, climate resilience, improving nutrition outcomes and environmental sustainability.”

Singh also confirmed that the Aquaculture Development Bill, part of the broader Oceans Economy Master Plan, had received clearance from the State Law Advisors to proceed through Parliament.

“As the aquaculture sector we have seen the benefits of driving the Oceans Economy through partnerships which resulted in progress towards the various priorities, including driving legislative reform and development of the Aquaculture Development Bill. Currently the Bill has obtained green light from the State Law Advisors to undergo Parliamentary processes,” he said.

Partnerships and the next generation

Singh outlined a number of collaborations underpinning the department's approach, including a project with the United Nations Development Programme supporting 31 small-scale fish farmers through the introduction of agricultural technology and artificial intelligence, and a pilot aquaponics system developed with non-profit organisation INMED-South Africa in the Sweetwaters area of KwaZulu-Natal.

He pointed to the Aquaculture Technology Demonstration Centre at Gariep Dam, which trains new farmers and hosts research and innovation in freshwater aquaculture, run in partnership with Motheo Technical and Vocational Education and Training College.

International research collaborations with France, Norway and England, through programmes including AfriMAQUA, LIMAQUA and SUMUSANO, were also advancing work on seaweed farming, aquatic animal health and nutrition-sensitive aquaculture, he said. South Africa's disease-free status for selected diseases affecting the abalone and oyster industries had strengthened access to international markets, Singh added.

Singh urged young delegates at the conference to “actively engage, ask questions, criticise and network,” saying the sector's future growth would depend on their innovation and leadership. Marking Women's Month, he also highlighted the role of women as scientists, entrepreneurs and policymakers driving innovation across the sector.

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