Our objective is to promote and protect the interests of its members in the South African Pelagic Industry
The South African Pelagic Fishing Industry Association (SAPFIA) is a legally recognised industrial body which represents a large number of Rights Holder who hold approximately 67% of sardine rights and 70% of anchovy rights in the small pelagic fishing sector.
The small pelagic fishing industry contributes R5.5 billion in sales to the South African economy. In terms of sales value, 34% of the total value of sales is generated through exports.
Domestic
Canned Pilchards and other Pilchard product sales.
12,2% Export
Export
Fish meal & Fish oil sales.
2,2% Domestic
- Fish meal and fish oil is mainly used in the production of aqua feed and animal feed.
- Fishmeal and fish oil is almost exclusively exported (97,8%) to markets like the EU and Far East with a negligible amount sold domestically.
- Producers of canned pilchards focus on providing the retail market with a range of branded value-added products. It is an important source of affordable protein.
- A small proportion of canned pilchards are exported (12%), mainly into SACU
- Frozen pilchards are sold mainly in the international markets as bait.
Pilchards are processed in specialized canneries, while a small proportion is frozen and packed for distribution as bait. Anchovies are processed into fishmeal and fish oil.
Employment and capital contribution at the processing level of the value chain
| Contribution | |
| Processing Facilities | |
| Canneries | 6 |
| Fishmeal and Fish Oil Plants | 6 |
| Freezing Plants | 12 |
| Number of Employees | 5 096 |
| Canneries | 3 302 |
| Fishmeal and Fish Oil Plants | 554 |
| Freezing and Pack Facilities | 1 240 |
| Annual Average Salary of Permanent Employees | R106 000 |
| Wage Bill for Permanent Employees | R394 000 000 |
| Insured Capital Asset Value | R2 100 000 000 |
- Processing is more labour intensive than harvesting. There are 5100 employees at this level (canneries in particular)
- The majority of employees at cannery and fishmeal facilities are permanent, whereas freeze and pack facilities tend to rely on a smaller group of permanent employees die to the variability of volumes landed at the facilities
- The total wage Bill for permanent employees at the processing facilities is about R394 million.
- Total insured value of the processing facilities is R2.1 billion, with ongoing annual investment in maintenance and recapitalization
- Canneries and fishmeal/fish oil plants are capital intensive, contributing the bulk of the asset value for processing.
Disclaimer – Above figures as at 25 July 2018 of SAPFIA Members employees.
Disclaimer – Facts and Figures for land-based employment consists of SAPFIA members only.
Fish meal and Fish oil Plants
These facilities focus on processing small pelagic species such as anchovy and red-eye herring as well as cannery offal.
Cannery Factories
Produce the range of SKUs available on the domestic market.
Freezing Facilities
Pilchards are sorted, packaged and frozen for distribution.
Let's collaborate
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The South African Pelagic Fishing Industry Association (SAPFIA) is a legally recognised industrial body which represents a large number of Rights Holder who hold approximately 67% of sardine rights and 70% of anchovy rights in the small pelagic fishing sector.
Our Location
1st Floor, Harbour Place.
7 Martin Hammerschlag Way,
Foreshore, Cape Town, ZA
+27 21 425 2727