Fish Factories of Yesteryear: AIF, Velddrif, Cape West Coast

Driving towards Velddrif on the R27 West Coast Road, one will see the former factory of the African Inshore Fisheries Development Corporation (AIF) towards your left-hand side as one crosses the Berg River over the Carinus Bridge. This particular factory dates back to the golden era of Velddrif. But what went wrong you may ask?

The closure of the factory was due to a combination of factors such as environmental, financial, technological and a Department of Fisheries that could not deliver results.  These factors may sound familiar, but it had in fact already occurred back in 1957. Since AIF was not able to adapt to it’s changing environment it led to the closure of this particular factory.