Enabling Aquaculture. Saldanha Bay Makes Space for Fish Farming Development

South Africa’s fledgling aquaculture industry is celebrating the green light given in June by the Department of Environmental Affairs for an ambitious fish-farming development in Saldanha Bay. A group of objectors has vowed to continue fighting the plan in court.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa signed the approval on 7 June, giving the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and two private companies – Molapong Aquaculture and Southern Cross Salmon Farming – the go-ahead for an aquaculture development zone (ADZ) in the West Coast bay.

“It’s essential to aquaculture producing any substantial volume in South Africa,” Peter Britz, chairman of the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa, said of the decision.

“Saldanha is the only sheltered water we have . . . It’s the jewel in the crown.”