Cape Fish has achieved Best Seafood Practices and Best Aquaculture Practices certifications from the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), the first-ever seafood processing plant in South Africa to earn the distinction.

Located in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town, Cape Fish works with small-scale South African fishers specialising in the handling of fresh large wild-caught pelagics, such as yellowfin tuna and swordfish. Cape Fish also processes farmed kob and yellowtail amberjack.

Seafood processing

Source: Cape Fish

Cape Fish has become the first seafood processor in South Africa to be recognised by the GSA

Certification will help expand the reach of Cape Fish’s product, says owner, Michelle Bellinger. “BSP certification has opened markets previously unavailable to Cape Fish and has had a positive outcome for vessel owners, knowing that their labour of love is valued once given the chance to be seen internationally,” she said.

Bellinger is also operator of sister company, ICV Africa, one of the largest exporters of pole-and-line caught tuna. With a strong focus on empowering women in business, she has transformed the company to be entirely managed by females.

Cost is often a barrier to certification for smaller fisheries. Cape Fish was helped by sponsorship from Envisible, which specialises in sourcing and traceability technology.

“Envisible’s sponsorship of Cape Fish’s certification helped enable a route to market with lower costs for Cape Fish, buyers and ultimately, consumers,” said GSA Chief Executive Brian Perkins.

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