Operationalization of fish auction market feasibility study

Abstract

With an EEZ of 1.9 km2, the Government of Mauritius envisions the land based oceanic industries as a strategy for extracting more value from the ocean to spearhead sustainable economic growth. Development of the seafood hub, the marine fisheries and aquaculture are the landmarks of the aforesaid strategy. In 2007 the Ministry of Fisheries and Rodrigues (MOFR) has precipitated the development of an electronic fish auction market at Fort William without any feasibility study and/or a business mode l. Actually construction works are completed and installation of electro-mechanical and refrigeration equipment is underway at a total cost of Rs 35 million. An additional capital investment of about Rs 15 million would be required for the acquisition of an electronic fish auction system and associated equipment to enable the operationalization of the facility. The parent Ministry reckons that it is not within its prerogative to be directly involved in the operationalization of the fish auction market on account the commercial / business orientation of the latter. It intends to procure a private operator-cum-investor to operationalize the facility through a Public-Private Partnership model. The present study has been commissioned by the MOFR to perform a techno-economic appraisal of the project in view to chart out appropriate operationalization strategies for the project. The fish auction at Fort William is designed to deal in fresh / chilled fish harvested by the domestic fisheries b ut an in- depth supply analysis has concluded that this is not feasible for various reasons. All the same, the facility is not adequately located and equipped to auction frozen by-catch of foreign tuna long line vessels which is available in sufficiently large quantities at the fishing port. Therefore the project is techno-economically unsustainable unless it is overhauled. According to the By-catch regulation 2004, all licensed foreign tuna long line vessels have an obligation to land their by- catch at the Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB) Cold Storage Facility at the fish docks while non-licensed visiting vessels have no obligation whatsoever unless the market conditions are attractive. The total annual supply of frozen by-catch in Mauritius estimated between 4000 and 9000 metric tonnes. To take advantage the market opportunities, the business model of fish auction facility to be adjusted to frozen by-catch trade and in this process the 300 tonne AMB cold storage facility at the fis h docks of Fanfaron will have to be amalgamated with the FAM. The refrigeration system installed at the FAM will be operated as an Ice-flakes Production Unit on a commercial basis. It will cater for effective demand of ice-flakes arising from the artisanal and semi-industrial (chilled) fisheries as well as fish marketing structures in its surrounding. However the administrative centre including the electronic backbone of the auction system will stay at Fort William. S.W.O.T analysis of the proje ct has concluded on two critical points which are: -The frozen by-catch is a secured business under the By-catch Regulations and the Licensing Policies of foreign tuna long line vessels. Government commitment to this project is a key determinant for the success of the project. -The major weakness of the project is the lack of local expertise and familiarity in electronic fish auction that can be obviously compensated by a proven foreign operator –cum-investor through a suitable PPP model or a st rategic alliance by means of a Joint Venture. investment The feasibility study of the FAM is prepared in a conservative approach. The total Public Investment is re- adjusted at Rs 25 million to reflect its actual market value. Additional Private Investment is estimated at Rs 15 million. The opportunity cost of long term public borrowings is taken at 6%, which is slightly higher than current financial market rates and that of the private project loans, at 10%. A weighted mean discounting factor o f 7.75 % is used to examine the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Break-Even (B/E) points of the project. The life cycle of the project is assumed at 15 years. Supply of by-catch supply for the first year of operation is projected at 1500 metric tonnes with and increment of 10% per year for the consecutive years. The mean market price of by-catch fish species is taken at prevailing international ex-vessel price including a price inflation rate of 5% per annum. Auction fe e is projected at 10 % of the primary sale price. The Ice-flakes Production Unit (IPU) will operate at 50% of its installed capacity which is minimal.