Fisheries SOPs represent detailed documents outlining standardised steps and protocols for various activities within the fisheries sector, from farm classification and feed sampling to contingency measures and independent surveys. These SOPs are essential for ensuring consistent, safe, and sustainable practices. SOPs help ensure that fisheries operations comply with requirements as set through the MLRA. They establish guidelines for safe handling, processing, and testing of fish species to protect public health and ensure product quality.

The biotoxins plans is compiled to effectively monitor the toxicity levels of cultured fish in accordance with the South African Molluscan Shellfish Monitoring and Control Programme (SASM&CP). Microbiological monitoring of production areas is required for the classification of production areas and the monitoring of sewerage borne diseases to ensure food safety of aquaculture products marketed. Escherichia coli (E. coli) are used as an indicator species for the monitoring of microbiological contamination and the presence of enteric viruses in Saldanha Bay in accordance with the South African Live Molluscan Shellfish Monitoring and Control Programme (SASM&CP).

Freshwater aquaculture in South Africa includes a vast array of mainly alien species ranging from Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus and Oreochromis niloticus), Sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Brown trout (Salmo trutta), Ornamental koi and Carp (Ciprinus carpio), and Marron (Cherax tenuimanus) (i.e. freshwater crayfish) forming the bulk of commercial production. This guideline provides an information source regarding the authorisation requirements applicable to undertake an aquaculture activity in South Africa. It is not a legislative review and has no legal standing, but provides guidance to the legal frameworks, which are legally binding towards the protection and responsible use of our environment.

Inland fisheries in South Africa is dominated by recreational and small-scale fishing for subsistence and livelihood purposes. Commercial inland fisheries equivalent in scale to South Africa’s commercial marine fisheries to supply formal markets does not exist due to the low productivity of inland waters. The purpose of the policy is to support and guide the sustainable development and management of the inland fisheries sector. This includes legislative reform and harmonisation, the definition of access rights, criteria for ensuring sustainable harvest levels, government organisational structure and capacity, cooperative governance and co-management arrangements and the empowerment of rural communities to participate equitably in sustainable resource use and ensure that current fishers’ livelihoods are protected.

The directory was developed to list potential funding programmes and/or products that can be accessed by the aquaculture stakeholders for financial support. The main objectives of this document is to: be a user friendly funding guide for potential and existing aquaculturists who want to venture or expand into the sector; provide Information and guidance on financial assistance available for the aquaculture sector; coordinate access to funding; and create awareness and stimulate investment in the sector.

This manual addresses the public health concerns related to production, harvesting, packaging, dispatch, transporting, labelling and the traceability of aquacultured fish and associated products intended for human consumption. It furthermore addresses limited processing carried out post-harvest, which is limited to gilling and gutting, in facilities that are situated on the production site. Hatcheries and nurseries are not subject to public health requirements provided the product is more than 6 months from minimum market size. Processing is dealt with in another process.

The guideline is focused on assisting people who are interested in pursuing aquaculture (either marine or freshwater aquaculture) as an enterprise and who need to know what the legal requirements affecting their project are. It will also be of use to those who provide associated services such as broodstock producers and suppliers, drugs and feed manufacturers and suppliers, processors, wholesalers and retailers, marketing bodies and the industry associations. The guideline will also assist secondary stakeholders who are indirectly affected by the regulation of the sector, in getting a better understanding of the scope of legal requirements that need to be complied with.

In developing this policy due recognition has been taken of the current position of South Africa in relation to global aquaculture production, in order to contextualize the challenges the government faces in creating and ensuring the appropriate enabling regulatory environment required to optimize its opportunities and actively contribute to national food security, national wealth and job creation; to regional and world fish supply. A brief synthesis of global aquaculture trends is therefore presented below together with a brief status of aquaculture in South Africa.

This National Aquaculture Strategic Framework (NASF) provides guidance to stakeholders as it identifies the much needed government interventions and support measures, which will facilitate the removal of constraints and create an enabling environment for the development of an equitable, diverse, viable, competitive and sustainable aquaculture sector. The NASF contains, amongst other things, guiding principles and 17 strategic elements for aquaculture development in South Africa. 

This project was formulated to address a number of issues, such as developing provincial aquaculture strategic plans, revitalising state hatcheries, training of extension officers, and the development of a manual to complement the training. The manual is not only intended for the training of extension officers, but is also resource material to be used in the field when interacting with farmers.

Aquatic animal health is regarded as fundamental to the sustainability of the aquaculture industry and commercial fishery whilst simultaneously protecting the greater public interest. The frameworks for aquatic animal health and welfare encompasses all aquaculture activities. For the purposes of these frameworks, the term aquatic animal refers to fish, shellfish and any other group of animals usually occurring in the aquatic environment, with the exception of mammals, birds, crocodiles and amphibians.