WIth a trade agreement between South Africa and the European Union (EU) still being negotiated, the country could miss the boat on taking advantage of the EU’s move last week to drastically reduce fishing in its waters to save dwindling fish stocks.
A gap has emerged in the EU fish market because the bloc has agreed to end overfishing in its waters by 2015 — 2020 for some exceptional species — after fish stocks had dwindled precariously. Eurostat has released data showing that fish catches have fallen from more than 8 million tons in 1995 to 4.9 million tons in 2010.
South Africa has an already established European market for its sustainably managed deep-water trawler-caught hake, but high export tariffs are a hurdle to the country’s other fish. The industry cannot charge the same premium as it charges for the hake.
This species is South Africa’s only fish stock with the sought-after Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation indicating its operations ensured sustainable fish stocks. The accreditation enables sellers to charge a premium for the flesh.
