The Abalone Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) is an independent non-profit organisation which promotes the interests and image of the abalone farming industry and is the formal spokesbody for this sector. Its members are entities in possession of valid abalone hatchery, grow-out or ranching permits. It is governed by a voluntary Council elected annually from its membership, whilst its day to day business is managed under contract by a chief executive officer and secretariat.

The aim and objective of the Association is to promote the well-being, and represent the interest, of the Aquaponics Industry in Southern Africa, for the benefit of the Association members. This would include, inter alia, the following aims:

1  To foster unity amongst the members of the Association

2 To encourage and facilitate growth in the Industry

3 To act as representative and liaison between different interest groups pertinent to the Industry, most especially the State

4 To encourage research and development, and to disseminate any such resultant information to all the members of the Association

5 To promote, support and generally elicit legislation favourable to the members of the Association

6 To encourage environmentally sound practices amongst members

The Namibian Mariculture Association was established in order to preserve and promote the interests of the members of the mariculture industry in Namibia; not only to provide opportunities for collaboration and discussion amongst its members, but to liaise with Government bodies, public and private establishments and individuals on matters of general and specific interest to its members, and to distribute relevant information among them. The Association also has the authority to delegate industry representatives to institutional bodies and events where such representation is in the best interest of its members, and aims to cooperate with other Associations having similar objects.