Port St Johns lobster project gets R2.8 million expansion boost

A lobster farming project in Port St Johns has received a R2.8 million investment to expand production and strengthen export capacity.

The funding, provided by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), supports the Tsweleni Rock Lobster Project and seven primary fishing cooperatives operating under the Singabalobi Secondary Cooperative. As of the upcoming March–October 2026 fishing season, the project aims to significantly increase lobster output and improve export readiness.

What happened?

The Eastern Cape Development Corporation invested R2.8 million in the Tsweleni Rock Lobster Project in Port St Johns.

The project involves seven local fishing cooperatives working together through the Singabalobi Secondary Cooperative. The funding is intended to improve infrastructure, support operations and strengthen the project’s ability to supply international markets.

Part of the investment funded a lobster holding facility equipped with 10 tanks designed to keep lobsters alive in seawater until sale and transport. In addition, the OR Tambo District Municipality donated a 12-metre freezing facility to support storage and export logistics.

The project plans to produce about 7 tons of lobster during the March–October 2026 fishing season, with long-term plans to scale production to 10–12 tons.

Key details of the project

Item	Details
Total investment	R2.8 million
Location	Port St Johns, Eastern Cape
Cooperatives involved	Seven primary fishing cooperatives
2025 production	More than 1.8 tons of lobster
2026 production target	7 tons
Export markets reached	Hong Kong and Taiwan
Export plans	Frozen lobster exports and EU market access

The seven participating cooperatives are:

• Lower Luphoko Primary Fishing Cooperative
• ALBZ Industries Primary Cooperative
• Manxokweni Fishing Primary Cooperative
• Ndluzula Fishing Primary Cooperative
• Rhebu Fishing Primary Cooperative
• Nxonxa Fishing Primary Cooperative
• Mhadini Fishing Primary Cooperative

During the 2025 fishing season, the cooperatives produced more than 1.8 tons of lobster, including 370 kg exported live to Asian markets such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

To manage commercial operations and export access, the cooperatives formed a joint venture called RS Foods with seafood aggregator Rekaseed.

RS Foods manages business operations while Rekaseed provides permits required to transport lobster from fishermen to markets and helps source buyers.

Why it matters

The investment strengthens a growing seafood value chain in the Eastern Cape and creates opportunities for small-scale fishing cooperatives.

Improved infrastructure allows the project to maintain lobster quality through holding tanks and freezing facilities. This increases the product’s shelf life and improves the ability to reach export markets.

Although live lobster exports generate higher revenue, frozen lobster provides longer storage times and more flexible market access.

The project is also exploring diversification into other fish species and plans to expand the holding facility so additional cooperatives in the Port St Johns area can participate.

What happens next

The project is working toward securing export certifications required for direct international trade.

Currently, lobster exports are facilitated through an agent in Gqeberha while the secondary cooperative works toward obtaining the necessary export approvals.

In February, a German delegation visited the Port St Johns operation as part of a seafood sourcing mission to South Africa. The visit assessed whether emerging seafood producers in the Eastern Cape can meet European market standards.

If certification requirements are met, the project could expand exports to European markets and strengthen long-term opportunities for coastal fishing communities.