Coega Development Corporation facilities. (Photo: CDC)
SOUTH AFRICA
Wednesday, August 27, 2014, 03:10 (GMT + 9)
Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has plans to invest ZAR 2 billion (USD 187 million) to develop a 300ha aqua-farming facility in its Industrial Development Zone near Port Elizabeth, which will contribute to the creation of thousands of jobs.
The firm’s agro-processing project manager, Keith du Plessis, explained that after conducting a feasibility study, it was found the environmental conditions were ideal for abalone farming and the corporation will now procure a service provider to conduct an environmental impact assessment, BDlive reported.
"The envisaged facility will focus on the commercial cultivation of marine animals and plants," pointed out du Plessis. The idea is to dedicate 80ha to abalone farming by 2020, creating about 2,080 permanent jobs.
CDC also proposes to farm finfish on 120ha in the facility, which could create 3,000 more permanent jobs in the long term.
"Another species that could be farmed is seaweed, which is complementary to abalone farming," Plessis highlighted. "Seaweed can be used for abalone feed and various pharmaceutical uses."
These initiatives are launched in the wake of a statement by National Government that it intends to give special focus to what is being described as the “Blue Economy,” SAinfo informed.
The Industrial Policy Action Plan singled out the Coega IDZ as the site for the development of an aquaculture zone.
Further, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC Sakhumzi Somyo stated that the department had been selected as a partner in the development of implementation plans to unlock the potential of the Oceans Economy nationally.
Somyo said it was “regrettable” that while the Eastern Cape had one of the longest coastlines in the country the marine (oceans) economic was a sector that had not received a lot of focus.
The MEC pointed out that a study released in 2013 had indicated that South Africa’s marine resources could be optimised to realise an additional GDP of ZAR 129 to 177 million (USD 12-16 million) and create approximately one million jobs by 2033.
For his part, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana noted on a recent visit to the Eastern Cape that Government had placed the fisheries sector at the “core of development through the Ocean Economy Strategy”.
This strategy would make marine resources central to the economy.
The Department of Trade and Industry provides incentives through the Aquaculture Development and Enhancement Programme with a reimbursable cost-sharing grant of up to ZAR 40 million (USD 3.7 million) for inter alia machinery, bulk infrastructure as well as boats and vehicles and activities that will improve competitiveness.