Aqunion (Pty) Ltd is a leading abalone production business which provides a full aquaculture value chain, including abalone farming, processing, marketing and export of both wild and farmed South African abalone. Sales focus on Asian markets including Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. With headquarters in Hermanus, South Africa, the business consists of two abalone farms, a processing facility and a shareholding in Marifeed, which produces abalone feed.

Aqunion’s farming operations are situated in the coastal towns of Hermanus and Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa. The farmed abalone are reared in specially built tanks fed by a pump-ashore flow-through system – providing continuous fresh seawater. In the hatcheries, abalone are reared from fertilised eggs in a tightly controlled environment. After rearing and nursing, which takes approximately six months, the abalone are transferred to a grow-out environment where they spend the next two to four years in tanks, growing to a market size of 70–250 g. This is a robust open-air environment where the abalone are exposed to sun and rain as they would be under natural conditions, sustained by the formulated feed that is provided. When ready for sale, the abalone are delivered to the processing facility in crates or, in the case of live export, are packed on the farms for onward shipment.

The company Marifeed (Pty) Ltd is situated in Hermanus. Research into an abalone feed was initiated in 1990. A pilot plant was set up in 1993/94 to start producing Abfeed, and the production was registered in 1995 (Reg. No. 95/16681). In the intervening period production volumes have grown with the growth in demand from the abalone industry and Marifeed now sells more than 2 000 tonnes per annum.

The company has committed itself to producing different abalone diets to suit the needs of the farmers. The feed has been developed into a highly specialised product, which ensures that maximum growth is obtained. Water stability has been improved, which ensures that the product is used optimally.

Ingredients, consisting of fishmeal, soy, binders, vitamins and minerals are mixed and extruded under high pressure to form a flat pellet in different size ranges. The pellets are dried at a controlled moisture content for improved shelf life. Different forms of pellets are also produced according to the client's needs.

Marifeed’s feeds are all registered and the manufacturing facility has the following certifications: ISO 9001:2015, GlobalG.A.P., AFMA, AFRI COMPLIANCE and Veterinary Approved Establishment for Export (ZA certificate).

Diamond Coast Abalone (Pty) Ltd is an abalone ranching business that aims to produce wild abalone in sizes of >260g live for the abalone market in Asia. The business has an abalone ranching zone in the sea along the west coast of Namaqualand in the Northern Cape.

Diamond Coast Abalone (Pty) Ltd obtained the Ranching Right in 2013 and has over the past few years been seeding juvenile abalone at various pre-surveyed sites. The juveniles are obtained from Aqunion’s Roman Bay and Aqunion Whale Rock farms in Hermanus.

After seeding, the juvenile abalone immediately become cryptic, blending into the habitat to prevent predation. Once they have settled, they begin grazing on algae. At this stage they become wild abalone. Each abalone spends the next three years in a free-range environment fending for itself. Once it reaches the required weight, it is harvested and transported for processing.

Diamond Coast Abalone (Pty) Ltd aims to produce 60 tonnes of high-quality wild abalone per year, processed into dried abalone at Aqunion Processing and exported under the Diamond Coast Abalone brand. The abalone in the ranching environment are monitored for food safety in terms of the South African Shellfish Monitoring and Control Programme.