A German delegation on a Seafood Sourcing Mission to South Africa touched down in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday last week, 4 February, to help identify seafood farmers who are ready to export their produce to the European consumer market, and to identify support programmes for emerging producers to bring them up to international standards.
OR Tambo District Municipality
Two seafood farming operations in the OR Tambo District Municipality were visited. The first site was located in Mtakatyi, approximately 75 kilometers from Mthatha, while the second operation was situated in Port St. Johns, to assess the businesses’ readiness to export to the European market.
The delegation visited Phumalali Seafoods, an east coast rock lobster farming operation in Mtakatyi, which has revitalised small-scale fishing operations in the coastal communities of Mamolweni, Hluleka, and Mngcibe. This was followed by a visit to Rakaseed, which works with seven primary fishing cooperatives in Tsweleni, Port St. Johns.
The programme currently supports exporters across six priority sectors, namely, sustainable tourism, digital services, fresh produce, sustainable wood products, cut flowers, and natural ingredients for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
On Friday, 6 February, the delegation visited Lepad Fishing South Africa, which operates a seafood processing facility in Deal Party, and the Rial Fishing Company in Walmer, which is currently working on an expansion plan to upgrade its processing facilities and increase production for exports.
Import Promotion Desk’s Export Sourcing and Markets Specialist Lea Reinhardt stated that the mission, conducted in partnership with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), forms part of a broader initiative to assess the export readiness of South African and Eastern Cape producers for the European market, strengthen compliance, and connect Eastern Cape seafood producers with European buyers.
“The programme is led by the German Import Promotion Desk and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Import Promotion Desk programme has been in existence for 14 years. Its mandate is to support small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing European markets through structured capacity-building, sustainability alignment, and targeted matchmaking,” Reinhardt added.
Reinhardt further added: “The programme currently supports exporters across six priority sectors, namely, sustainable tourism, digital services, fresh produce, sustainable wood products, cut flowers, and natural ingredients for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.”
ECDC Trade Promotion Specialist Linda Lubengu says the Eastern Cape has a strong and growing seafood industry, with access to rich marine resources, experienced processors, and a value chain that holds real potential for sustainable exports into Europe.
With ECDC’s support and the insights gained through this sourcing mission, we plan to expand into additional communities, increasing direct community investment to an estimated R2.8 million in 2026.
“With the right market linkages and compliance support, our local producers are well-positioned to compete and succeed internationally. At the ECDC, we remain committed to working with global partners like the German Import Promotion Desk to unlock export opportunities, strengthen local industries, and create sustainable growth for Eastern Cape businesses. This mission is another important step in positioning the province as a trusted supplier to the EU market,” Lubengu said.
According to Phumalali Seafoods Operations Director Trevor Page, future growth hinges on regulatory alignment. “The approval of multi-species permits by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) is critical. It will unlock further job creation, enable balanced and sustainable harvesting across species, and restore access to legally sourced local seafood for the Wild Coast tourism market.”
“With ECDC’s support and the insights gained through this sourcing mission, we plan to expand into additional communities, increasing direct community investment to an estimated R2.8 million in 2026,” Page added.
Lubengu says that to scale up operations and coordinate their activities, the seven cooperatives have received a R2.8 million incentive through the ECDC-administered Imvaba Cooperatives Fund, with each cooperative receiving R400,000. The funding is being used for the acquisition of a specialised holding facility valued at R1.7 million to store and maintain live lobsters before they are transported to markets. “The funds will also be used for operational support, covering stock purchases, salaries, security, electrical upgrades, transport logistics, and fishing permit acquisitions,” Lubengu noted.
Reinhardt says the collaboration with the ECDC has been instrumental in establishing a strong South African pipeline.
“We began working with the ECDC shortly after launching our South Africa programme two years ago. At present, six South African companies are participating, including Wild Coast Abalone in the Eastern Cape. Our role is to assist with capacity-building while facilitating direct connections with European buyers,” she concluded.
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