THE ARRIVAL in pristine condition of 60 kg of live turbot fish in Singapore recently could herald the start of a lucrative new market. Appointed agent Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (HWL) Cape believes it's a first for South Africa. The success of the trial airfreight project has encouraged the Van Diemen Sea Food Group to increase the consignment to 200kg a week with 500kg the ultimate objective. Strongly resembling sole, the turbot is popular in Europe and farmed in France and Spain. "Our turbot cannot compete with France and Spain on the European market from the freight cost aspect, but to Singapore and Hong Kong we are highly competitive," said Hans Duncker, general manager HWL Cape Town. The Far East is a major market for fish, with Hong Kong alone consuming six to seven million pieces a day. South African turbot is farmed by Jacobsbaai Sea Products on the West Coast and requires two years to reach maturity.
