x
The Fronds Team go out on boats to harvest kelp leaves in a highly sustainable and ecologically friendly way.
Workers collect stipes (stems) that wash up onto the beach.
A raw concentrate is extracted from the freshly-harvested kelp, that is then sent to AfriKelp for further processing.
Gelidium is a genus of red algae which gets picked off rocks on the East coast during low spring tide in the intertidal zones.
Taurus is a long-term concession-holder for various species of kelp and algae. Concession areas are marked out by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, for specific time frames. There are a total of twenty-three concession areas and only thirteen fishing rights allocated. The other areas are set aside for small scale fishers. As Taurus relies on the environment for its livelihood, it has a vested interest in making sure that the local kelp and algae are sustainably harvested. This is also monitored by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which conducts monthly reviews, checking the quantity of each species harvested. There are also regulations regarding how the harvesting is done, such as the rule that the kelp leaves only to be cut 25cm or more from the primary base, to ensure that the kelp is not damaged in the harvest. Also, harvest areas are rotated, to allow the leaves to grow back. Kelp that is washed up onto the shore is also collected in an environmentally friendly way, making sure that enough is left behind for birds and other organisms to live off.
Taurus is actively involved in the community and gives financial assistance to a creche in the local township of Masakhane. They also provide financial assistance to Gansbaai Academia High School, Gansbaai Primary School, Okkie Smuts Primary School in Stanford and the Grootbos Football Foundation Trust, offering financial assistance to underprivileged children who are part of their athletics program.
"Thank you Taurus Cape Kelp PTY LTD for supplying the Okkies Athletes with shade in a very hot Paarl on Saturday. You are a contributor to the two medals of the two athletes included in the Boland team! — Kobus Koekemoer, Okkie Smuts Primary School, Stanford, Western Cape.
In the past Taurus Chemicals Cape Kelp (Pty) Ltd was involved in beach cast and cultivating of Gracilaria Verrucosa (BXG), red seaweed in Luderitz. Gracilaria Verrucosa occurred in the lagoons of Luderitz. To augment natural erratic supplies we cultivated this seaweed on floating net systems in one of the lagoons. The lack of beach cast wash ups caused this division to close in Luderitz as the cultivating of Gracilaria also became very expensive.
A few years ago Taurus supplied raw material of Ecklonia Maxima and Laminaria Pallida kelp from both Luderitz and Gansbaai areas for international medical research.
Dr. Nicole Hart (Managing Director)
Adele Geldenhuys (Executive Director)
Thabisa Mpazwa
accounts@tcck.co.za
Tel: + 27 28 384-1088
Fax: +27 28 384-1800
P.O. Box 983
2 Oestervanger Street
Gansbaai Industrial
info@tcck.co.za
P.O Box 983
Gansbaai
7220
