Appendix 5
REPORT ON THE VISIT TO AQUARIA ANTWERP

(31 January 1980)

The consultant spent a day with this firm, the largest in Belgium and one of the six largest in Europe, and discussed the Mozambique ornamental fish prospects at length with its owner, Mr Van de Weyer, whom the consultant has known for more than 20 years through sporadic and past business relationships.

Mr Van de Weyer expressed the opinion that, since the consultant's last visit in September 1979, the market for the Malawi cichlids had been depressed and sales showed market slump.

This assertion could be checked by the consultant in the fish compound. Less than 10 tanks out of more than 1 000, were devoted to Malawi cichlids; and some of them had obviously been bought from professional or semi-professional breeders. Mr Van de Weyer was still importing from Malawi about one shipment a month, his supplier being Mr S. Grant.

He doubts very much that, under present market conditions, a substantial market could be built for cichlids from the Mozambique coastline, unless very colourful previously exploited fishes could be found. He expressed keen interest in Chiloglanis neumanni and felt that with a right price (which he feels he cannot assess without having seen and studied a few live specimens) he could build up a market for this fish and order between 500 and no more than 1 000 a month.

The consultant had chosen a day for his visit during which shipments from the Far East (Jakarta) and the Caribbean were expected. Fifty boxes of marine fish and invertebrates were unpacked in his presence, and he collaborated in the unpacking of the fish, checked on the storage operation and condition of the fish upon arrival and recovery symptoms afterwards. All fishes, including freshwater fishes such as the African Phenacogrammus characin, bred in Jakarta, were packed singly in small plastic bags. All fishes were alive when checked through the walls of the bags, although the water in the bags was often polluted and cloudy. Many fishes, after having been put into the holding tanks, showed acute signs of distress and some eventually died one hour after having been unpacked. About 5 percent of the fish were in discomfort and apparently would not recover.

Invertebrates were generally in good condition although the water was very cloudy.

Given the fact that the fish are packed individually, which wastes much time, the techniques used in packing the fish in the exporter's facilities appear to be good, but not outstanding. The water used for packing was apparently synthetic sea water, with no addition of disinfectants or tranquillizers.

Aquaria Antwerp imports between 450 and 500 boxes of marine fauna from tropical areas per month. The prices listed on some of the tanks inferred that many of the most common varieties of coral reef fishes are sold at cost or with a very small mark-up to hasten their sale. The rarer species have a fair mark-up of about 50 percent but basically if the market for marine fauna is thriving, the consultant was confirmed in his opinion that it is not very profitable for importers, and that to make a profit they must sell quickly, as high mortality is considered unavoidable after a few weeks of storage. Overhead expenses are also considered very high, because the storage of marine fishes requires about five times more tank space than freshwater species of similar size, equipment is more sophisticated and well-trained staff are more costly.

Mr Van de Weyer expressed the opinion that the packing of fishes individually by Far East exporters was excellent for an importer as it guaranteed a minimum of losses during transportation but acknowledged that it increased the weight of each box and increased freight charges. He agreed that without individual packing losses on shipments from the Far East for marine fauna and some of the freshwater fishes would be much higher.

Asked about the Mozambique coral reef fauna, he expressed a keen interest in ordering probably 50 boxes a month, possibly more if the variety was excellent and the quality as good as from other sources of supply.

He insisted however on the fact that prices and freight costs had to be in line with imports from the Indian Ocean.

He kindly assembled price lists from several countries from which he is importing now and gave the freight costs per kilogramme.

The freight costs per kilogramme are as follows (checked with Sabena airline freight department).

¹ Exchange: US$ 1.00 = HK$ 5.00; S$ 2.17; Baht 20.15; I.Rs. 8.05; SL.Rs. 15.60; Kwacha 0.80 (December 1979).

Note:

1. Prepaid freight is paid in local currency, collect freight is paid in local currency of country of destination at a fixed IATA rate, which is higher than bank rates. Hence the trend to ship freight prepaid.

2. Although SCR 1024 is lower than normal freight rates, it is not determined only by the travel distance involved but by special agreements between airlines. See discrepancy between Singapore and Jakarta rates.

3. If the Blantyre-Brussels SCR were to be applied, exports from Mozambique would be substantially cheaper than those from the Far East (approximately 20 to 50 percent) but still higher than those applied from the main source of supply in the Far East, Singapore, by 15 percent.

4. Most Far East sources of supply are linked to European markets by direct flights with the same company. Mozambique is not.