Current Projects & Programmes:

1.  From 2008 AISA will be, in collaboration with The University of Stellenbosch (US, Cape College for Agricultural Training (CIAT) and SwissContact, coordinating the Skills Development and Training Programme (STP) that would provide training to empower Aquaculturists with sound aquaculture and business principals (for more information please see the 'Training and Academia' Page).

2.  From 2008, AISA will be coordinating the Quality and Health Managment Programme (QHMP) of the Western Cape in collaboration with retailors, producers, academia and government in the Western Cape (for more information please contact the AISA office).

Completed Projects: (- All reports are available on the 'Publications' page)

1. AISA (orginally MISA) attended the International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS) 14-18 June 2004, where Dr Botes presented a paper on "The potential threat of Algal Blooms to the Abalone (Haliotis midae) Mariculture Industry situated around the South African coast". Dr. Lizeth Botes wrote a report on the following:

• International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS) 14-18 June 2004,

• The RSA/Ireland/EU Meeting 18 June 2004,

• Quasimemme workshop 19 June 2004

• and RSA/Ireland workshop, 21 June 2004, discussing the possibility of Ireland sending a Specialist Scientist to assist South Africa in preparing for an EU audit.

2. Subsequent to the ICMSS discussions, a Specialist Scientist from the Marine Insitute, Ireland, visited South Africa (funded by AISA, Department of Trade & Industry, Western Cape Department of Economic Development & Tourism) from 7 - 12 February 2005 to provide assistance in obtaining EU approval for the export of South African aquaculture products. A report was written by by Dr. Terry McMahon which included suggested on how to improve the Shellfish Monitoring Programme.

3. An EU mission came to South Africa in July 2005 and meetings with the Competant Authority (SABS), Regulatory Authority (DEAT:MCM) and private sector were held over a time period of a week. Although we did not obtain apporval to export to the EU, a report was released by EU on their findings which pointed out shortcoming in the Shellfish monitoring programmes which could be improved.

4. The Western Cape Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning (DEA&DP) in partnership with the University of Stellenbosch and AISA have recognised the need to develop measures and guidelines to manage and promote sustainable aquaculture in the Western Cape. The deliverables of this project are a generic BMP Guideline, Authorisation protocol guideline with flow-chart in order to provide clarity on the permit processes in the Western Cape, and a simplified booklet. 

5. AISA investigated the value-adding, by-product and cross-sector opportunities in the Western Cape (funding provided by DEDT) in order to establish downstream business opportunities in the Aquaculture Sector. A report was written by Dr Botes which pointed out that due to the relatively young nature of the sector (in comparison with other Agricultural sectors), very littel value adding is currently taking place - leaving significant room for development in this area.

6. AISA conducted a skills audit of the Western Cape African Aquaculture Sector (funding provided by DEDT) in order to assess what training and skills development are available/required for human resource development within the industry and government. A  further assessment will be made on the service providers (existing and those still needed) of the necessary skills  required for aquaculture development. The rerpot written by Dr Lizeth Botes, provided the basis on which the Aquaculture Skills Development and Training Programme (STP) was developed.

7. AISA recognised the economic need to benchmark the Aquaculture Industry. Financial support for this project was provided by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). This process involved establishing an indicator set, interviews with industry and data capturing from which an industry statistics database has been developed. Two case studies (one fresh and one marine) have been conducted in the Western Cape to provide an in-depth analysis of two enterprises supporting broad based black economic empowerment. Two reports were writeen  namely; the 2006 AISA Aquaculture Benchmarking Survey Report and the 2006 Case Studies report, both written by L. Botes, G. Thompson and R. Louw

8. The 2009 AISA Aquaculture Benchmarking Survey has been completed in partnership with Swisscontact SA. For the first time, the survey not only provides valuable information and statistics about the supply side but also the demand side of the Aquaculture Sector. The survey has been done with funding support from the Swiss Government via Swisscontact SA

9. AISA has completed the Western Cape Aquaculture GIS map in collaboration with the Dept of the Premier, Dept of Economic Development and the Dept of Agriculture.

The map is the first of its kind for the aquaculture sector and contains all information relevant to Aquaculture. Not only is it a very useful tool for further development of aquaculture by industry and government, it is also a tool that can regularly be updated as the sector changes. It is our hope that this map will prove to be very useful and that support for a national initiative will be obtained.

Your comments and suggestions would be much appreciated and can be sent directly to AISA's CEO.

Please click here to view the map.

Note: the prelimanary DWEA species biodiversity maps have not been included yet as it has not yet been finalised and accepted, but a draft can be viewed by clicking here.