---
title: "West Coast abalone farm creating vital employment opportunities"
description: "Inside a partly community-owned perlemoen farm that’s now producing 60 tonnes of the pricey gastropods every year."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "GROUNDUP VIDEO"
author: "Ashraf Hendricks and Liezl Human"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/ashraf-hendricks-and-liezl-human/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-25-west-coast-abalone-farm-creating-vital-employment-opportunities/"
published: "2023-01-25T13:58:57"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 81
---

# West Coast abalone farm creating vital employment opportunities

> Inside a partly community-owned perlemoen farm that’s now producing 60 tonnes of the pricey gastropods every year.

By Ashraf Hendricks and Liezl Human · Published 25 January 2023, 15:58 SAST

## Key points
- Doring Bay Abalone Farm is an incredible success story. Started in 2013, the farm has grown from 8 employees to over 50 community members, producing 60 tonnes of abalone each year. This is a much-needed development in South Africa, where abalone poaching has been rampant since the early 2000s. The farm's success provides hope that abalone conservation can be achieved through sustainable farming practices and community involvement.
- Abalone, commonly known as “perlemoen”, is a critically endangered species.
- Thousands of tonnes of abalone have been poached from South Africa’s coast since the early 2000s.
- The Doring Bay Abalone Farm started in 2013 and now employs over 50 community members.
- It produces 60 tonnes of abalone each year.

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ8RL0oweVI)

Abalone, commonly known as “perlemoen”, is a critically endangered species. Since the early 2000s, thousands of tonnes of abalone have been poached from South Africa’s coast. It is a highly valued delicacy in China, which primarily imports abalone from South Africa. The Doring Bay Abalone Farm started in 2013 and is partly community-owned. The farm started with just eight employees. Now it employs over 50 community members, and produces 60 tonnes of abalone each year. **DM**

*First published by*[*GroundUp*](https://www.groundup.org.za/article/video-this-abalone-farm-is-starting-to-thrive/)*.*

![Image](https://thirdpartyhits.groundup.org.za/counter/hit/dailymaverick/2023-01-25-video-this-abalone-farm-is-starting-to-thrive/)