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Speech by MEC at the Official opening of the  Balobi  fish processing and export plant
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Agriculture & Land Affairs

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC MAMASE
 AT  THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BALOBI FISH PROCESSING AND EXPORT PLANT
 17 NOVEMBER 2000



Balobi, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is indeed an honour and a pleasure for me to have been invited on this day. Despite 
my hectic work schedule,I decided to come on this occasion because aquaculture production is very close to my heart. The department of 
agriculture is promoting aquaculture very seriously. Why aquaculture?

For centuries, humanitys need for fish products was supplied from the abundance of the oceans, lakes and rivers. Until recently, ocean 
productivity seemed unlimited, but in our time it has become clear that the traditional capture by fisheries has reached its maximum level. 
Over-fishing and pollution is rapidly causing depletion of fish in the main water bodies in the world. The maximum annual output of capture 
fisheries has remained stable in the past decade, at about 90 million tons.

However, many of the more valued fish species are on the verge of extinction, and therefore, the value of capture fisheries output is 
decreasing. To protect the water resources and ensure sustainable fishery productivity, quotas and restrictions on ocean fisheries have 
been implemented, further increasing the scarcity of valued fish species and increasing consumer prices of seafood. At the same time world 
demand for seafood is increasing both in developed countries as well as in developing countries. This is due to the increase in human 
population and in the growing realization that seafood is healthy.

Seafood everywhere is in high demand and consumer prices keep increasing. The only way to bridge the gap between reduced capture fisheries 
output and increased world demand for seafood is through aquaculture

The aquaculture industry in South Africa accounts for approximately 5 % AND 0,03 % of the aquaculture produced in Africa and the world 
respectively. Production in 1980 was a mere 345 tons which increased to 3 094 tons in 1988. The estimated value of aquaculture farm produce 
was R31,8 million in 1993.

Approximately 130 farmers in South Africa are involved in growing 14 commercial aquaculture species for food. Mussels, trout, oysters and 
waterblommetjies (Cape pondweed) are the major aquaculture species. Abalone could be a subindustry as a result of the establishment of new 
hatcheries in the Western Cape.

The resource base of the province of the Eastern Cape is conducive to agricultural development and aquacultural development for the 
economic and social benefit. Tapping this potential requires financial investment, training, management and technology development and 
transfer in order to promote food security and to form a platform for commerce, processing industries and exports. But realizing our 
economic potential growth from agriculture and aquaculture depends on a paradigm shift in the attitudes and practices of the people 
involved in this primary sector of our economy: viz., a shift away from subsistence-based aquaculture towards the market oriented 
production of primary commodities (fish).

These fundamental changes in attitudes and practices include:

* Recognition that farming whether crop or fish farming is business and not a lifestyle or tradition;
* Injudicious utilization of sensitive and fragile marine resources will destroy our economic base for development and that of the next 
generations.
* Properly planned and organized small aquacultural units can be competitive, modern and profitable.
* Aquacultural producers require nurturing, training and information support systems.

To implement these changes require strategies in education and training, institutional development, technology transfer and innovative and 
adaptive research together with enabling legislation, infrastructural development, accessible credit and business information. To this end 
the department has four broad policy objectives:

* To promote the sustainable use of natural resources;
* To encourage increased food and fibre production towards food security;
* To stimulate increased economic activity from agriculture (aquaculture);
* To formulate enabling legislation.

Farming (Aquacultural farming) must develop in a multi-disciplinary project environment conducive to the establishment of strategic 
alliances with other role players and service providers and must also consider the role of public-private and community partnerships 
wherever appropriate.

Ladies and Gentlemen, world trade in sea food is estimated at more than US$ 100 billion. The major markets are those of Japan, USA and 
European Union, which depend on imports ranging between 30-60% of their consumption. In the USA, consumption per capita is 7 kg, and they 
import about 1,5 million tons per year valued at almost US$ 6 billion.

Consumption in the European Union is 17 kg per capita. EU imports about 5 million tons per year valued at US$ 11 billion.

The increase in world demand for aquacultural products is estimated at 0,5 - 3 % per year. On average, this means additional annual 
requirements of 650 000 tons in the EU, AND 250 000 tons in the USA. This increase in demand can only be satisfied through Aquacultural 
production.

Seafood importers and distributors are seeking reliable sources of supply.

Restuarants, hotels, supermarkets and fish markets require increasing quantities of products to satisfy the increased demand.

Eating fish reduces heart diseases - Today this is well known worldwide.

Chairperson, before I retire, let me highlight this rather very important issue which is frequently omitted by many people who claim to be 
development facilitators or agents. Womens participation and involvement in the developmental and mainstream economic activities is a 
constitutional imperative in this country. According to the 1993 UNESCO report, women perform 2/3 of the world work, they earn only 10 % of 
the worlds wealth and they own only 1 % of the world economy. This means that we have a constitutional obligation to address this 
situation. In the fishing industry in particular, women should be given a space to participate meaningfully. Their applications for fishing 
permits or licences should receive prioritized and preferential consideration.

I THANK YOU !

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