Progress on the National Aquaculture Policy Process

The latest version of the draft marine aquaculture policy has been been released by MCM the end of June 2007. For copies of the policy, email Mashebane Thosago (mcthosago@deat.gov.za). Closing date for comments is the end of July 2007.

The National Department of Agriculture's (NDoA) draft aquaculture policy is available from Dr. Motseki Hlatshwayo (daap@nda.agric.za).

Progress on the Western Cape Aquaculture Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan

The Western Cape inter-governmental Aquaculture Technical Task Team is working in collaboration with AISA and the Provincial Development Council (PDC) to develop an Aquaculture Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan that will provide the sector (fresh water and marine) with one departure point in the Western Cape. The draft policy has been completed and will be circulated to stakeholders at the next workshop which will also focus on drafting a strategtic plan.

Watch this space to notices of the next workshop and draft documetns !

For more information contact:

Werner Harms at the DEDT: wharms@pgwc.gov.za

AISA Projects & Collaborations:

Road map for when you encounter fish health problems (see also above bullet point no 5 for assistance):

(compliments from Lesley Termorshuizen)

To avoid inappropriate treatments based on a speculative diagnosis and to quickly get to the root of the problem.  

1. Ongoing system management.

Health management does not begin with a sick fish, it begins with a routine approach to monitoring the environment in which the fish are held and the fish themselves.  

1a. Regular water quality tests should be undertaken to ensure that the various levels, most notably dissolved oxygen, ammonia and pH, are correct for the species of fish being farmed.  The frequency with which these variables are tested is a function of the stocking density of the fish, system design and associated risk.  

1b. A weekly parasite check should be conducted on a few (3 to 5 is fine) fish from each system.  Look for fish that appear weak or unhappy, as these are the most likely to be carrying parasites.  

1c. Observe the fish.  Monitor their behavior, physical appearance, colour and response to feed; if anything seems inappropriate then investigate further.  

2. Problem identification. 

When a specific problem is suspected or encountered, proceed as follows:  

2a. Check the water quality first.  In many instances the health problem simply relates to a water quality problem, or associated environmental stresses, and once you know what the problem is you can remedy it.   2b. Whether or not the water quality investigation reveals a problem, do a parasite check on the fish.  If any parasites are present they will proliferate on the fish stressed by water quality, making their presence more obvious.  Check the body slime and a small segment of gill filament under a microscope at 100x and 300x magnification.  Also investigate the body cavity for potential parasites.  

3. Treatment.

It is vital to identify with accuracy the condition that is affecting the fish in order to be able to deal effectively with the problem.  If a water quality or environmental problem exists then address this problem as quickly as possible without the solution itself becoming a stressor.  If the water quality is fine but a parasite or pathogen is present, then identify the most appropriate treatment for that species from your disease text references.  

3a. If a chemical treatment is to be used, then determine accurately the volume of water to be treated.  Most chemicals function by providing an environment that is toxic to the parasite, or part of its' life cycle, but is sub-lethal to the fish.  Holding the fish in the chemical soup for a time period that exceeds the life cycle of the parasite means that the parasite should then have been eliminated from that environment.  However, the dosage that is toxic enough to kill the parasite is often close to the level at which the chemical becomes toxic to the fish as well, so be sure to accurately calculate the volume of water to be treated.  

3b. During treatment provide plenty of aeration to ensure that the dissolved oxygen levels do not decrease to sub-optimal levels.  This is especially important with chemicals that oxidise organic material as they strip the oxygen from the water.  

3c. After treatment do a series of water changes to dilute the chemical out of the water as quickly as possible.  With treatments that breakdown naturally within a short time period, such as hydrogen peroxide, this is unnecessary.  

4. Monitor the fish. 

After treatment monitor the fish carefully to ensure that the water quality is within the desired range and that parasites do not reappear on the fish.  If water quality was the problem then initiate measures to prevent the problem from reoccurring.  

How to obtain a BEE Rating:

First get an Idea how you will Score!

Small Businesses and New Companies do not need a BEE Rating Certificate!

1. If you are a new company or have a turn-over of less than R5m p.a, you do not need to obtain a BEE Rating/Verification  Certificate. You only require a Statement qualifying that you are Exempted from BEE Verification.

2. On the other hand, if your company has a turn-over of between R5m and R35m, you are defined as a Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE).

The QSE BEE Scorecard has 7 Elements: i.e. ownership, management control, employment equity, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise development and socio-economic development. QSE’s only need to comply with 4 of these elements. 

3. Companies with a turn-over of in excess of R35m p.a. must comply with all the elements of the Generic Score Card.

           Please Note:

When you approach a Verification Agency, by law it must only request you to submit the required documentation reflecting your current status and under the Codes, they’re not allowed to assist you with the strategic preparation of    implementing your BEE Policy.

It’s advisable to first get an idea as to what your potential status could be, by conducting an initial assessment before obtaining a Rating Certificate.

 An initial assessment will give you indicators as to what action plans you should implement prior to obtaining a final rating. Without conducting an initial assessment you could be spending thousands with a Rating Agency and your compliance could be far from achieving the minimum targets on the Score Card.

4. Click Here to receive a Free Initial BEE Assessment Form

            Please Note: This Free Assessment should not be regarded as an actual Rating.

For further enquiries, contact

Gerrit Davids

Director

Taranis Empowerment Facilitation (TEF)

8th Floor, 33 Heerengracht

Cape Town, South Africa, 8001

Tel. +27 21 419 9641

Fax. 021-4188 772 / 086 684 8254

Mobile +2782496 1657

Skype: gerrit2112
e:mail: promax@mweb.co.za/ advisor@taranis.co.za

Jobs Available

Job title: Abalone Biologist  
West Coast Abalone is seeking to employ a person that is responsible, and can work independently  - as well as think problems through and come up with solutions. He / she will be working mainly in the Hatchery section and be involved in staff supervision as well as hands-on work. Duties will include spawning, larvae rearing, diatom culture, and live packing at night when necessary. He / she will have standby duties over some weekends, and should have a driver's licence. Some relevant tertiary education as well as computer literacy will be advantageous.  

Salary: Negotiable depending on experience  

Closing date: 29 November 2008  

Contact person:

Dennis Whyte, email: whyte@adept.co.za or fax: 0865100577   Many Thanks   Dennis Whyte
West Coast Abalone (Pty) Ltd, Stompneusbaai
Tel no: +27 22 742 1844

Marine and Coastal Management posts

MCM 52/2008: Principal Environmental Officer

MCM 54/2008: Assistant Director: Environmental Impact Assessments

MCM 56/2008: Assistant Director: Intergovernmental Coordination

Closing date: 1 December 2008

Contact Person:

Ms Mashebane Thosago             

Tel – 021 402 3438

Seeking Jobs:

Laurence Evans' Profile:

Aquaculture specialist in production management and system design (especially shrimp/prawns). A business, project and technical manager specialised in operations and production management, HACCP implementation, animal nutrition and feed manufacture, staff management & training, technical writing of training materials, business plans & financial models, company productivity, software tools and websites, environmental & EIA procedures and implementation. Sales and marketing experience.

Contact Laurence Evans, web@ecotao.com for full CV.

Alasdair Maclaurin's Profile:

I have recently graduated from the University of Plymouth with a degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology and I am undertaking a Masters (MSc) in Sustainable Aquaculture Systems in Plymouth beginning September 2009. The course will cover many methods and individual species of aquaculture including trout and salmon, tilapia, and many molluscan species, along with some training and education on the business of aquaculture.

I am looking for experience in the aquaculture industry to help me gain skills for the masters and for my possible future career in aquaculture.

Contact details:

Gas Network Investment, Asset Management, National Grid, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick, CV34 6DA
Tel: 01926 655 362
Fax: 01926 656 264

Post graduate students looking for a job opportunities in Aquaculture:

Please contact Melanie Smith for a CV at:

Tel: +27-(0)21 671 4244

Cell: +27- (0)72 3375924

Email: melanie.smith@uct.ac.za or melaniepangea@hotmail.com

Please contact Mashifane Brilliant for a CV at:

Cell: +27-(0)82 055 8946

Email: e-mail-brilli4ever@yahoo.com

Mari-louise van den Berg has a degree in Zoology, Tourism and Geography and Honors in Environmental Management and

is urgently looking for a job in the Cape Town area.  

Please contact her for a CV at:

Email: marilouise4@yahoo.com

Cell: 072 293 3817

Events

Oct 2008

12-14 October 2008. 8th International Symposium on Tilapia Aquaculture, Egypt.

Please visit the web site www.ista8-egypt.com for more information

23-25 Oct 2008. Future Fish Eurasia in conjunction with Istanbul Seafood Conference, Istanbul, Turekey

Industrial Fishing Technologies & Equipment, Aquaculture Technologies and Seafood Imports/Exports Fair
in conjunction with Istanbul Seafood Conference

mario.stael@eurasiafairs.com
Tel/fax: +32 9 233 49 12

www.future-fish.com

22-24 October 2008. Offshore Mariculture 2008, Alicante, Spain
Details of the conference at www.offshoremariculture.com

23-25 October 2008. Future Fish Eurasia 2008, Istanbul, Turkey
International Aquaculture Technologies & Equipment, Seafood Imports/Exports & Processing Fair
Industrial Fishing Technologies & Equipment
www.future-fish.com

29-31 October 2008. 4th International Aquaculture Forum 2008, Guadalajara, Mexico
Combined conference and exhibition show, attracting visitors from all over Mexico, Central America and the US south-west.
www.panoramaacuicola.com

Nov 2008

4-6 November 2008. China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2008, Qingdao, China
The annual Chinese aquaculture, fisheries and seafood show.
www.chinaseafoodexpo.com

11-14 November 2008. Euro Tier 2008, Hanover, Germany
International agriculture show with an aquaculture forum and RAS meeting.
www.eurotier.de/aquaculture

21-22 November 2008. Aqua Medit 2008, Athens, Greece
4th International congress on aquaculture, fisheries, technology and environmental management.
http://connect.to/pasti

25-27 November 2008. AsiaFish 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
Exhibition aimed at the rapidly growing Asian aquaculture industry, along with its fisheries.
www.baird-online.com