The release of the draft policy by Marine and Coastal Management (MCM), a branch of the department of environmental affairs and tourism, was contrary to an agreement reached last November that separate draft policies by MCM and the department of agriculture would be amalgamated for public comment, said Lizeth Botes, who chairs the Southern Aquaculture Working Group.
Aquaculture is the farming of fish, abalone, crayfish and plants under controlled conditions in marine or fresh water.
South Africa contributes less than 1 percent of African aquaculture production, which in turn contributes about 1 percent of global output. The industry had now requested that the draft policy be withdrawn, Botes said.
Source: Business Report