Komicx Products started in October 1992 with premises and cold storage in Kommetjie, a small fishing village in Cape Town, South Africa. The object of the company was to catch, process and market fish allocated to it by the Department of Environment Affairs in South Africa. Prior to being allocated its own fishing quotas the company bought in fish from local fishing operators which it processed to supply export markets and formal and informal local market traders. This, and the processing of various fish species on behalf of the local fish traders is still an important aspect of our business.

Komicx Products initially specialized in supplying shark fillets to the Australian fish shop market in Melbourne. The company also helped develop a range of products from the by-catch of Irvin and Johnson fishing trawlers. Komicx Products still processes this range that is sold in leading retail outlets throughout Southern Africa.

In 1994 Komicx started to process pilchard bait to supply the various local bait needs of fishermen on the South African coast. Today Komicx is fortunate to catch, process and market its own allocation of pilchard into a high quality bait product. The company markets this bait under the brand name SARDS.

Over the past 13 years Komicx has provided high quality products to all its customers and has become a market leader in the South African fishing industry.

Komicx expanded in 1997 and relocated to its new processing plant in Fish Eagle Park, Kommetjie. The company now employees up to 110 people at these premises. The premises are approved by the European Union for the processing of fish to be sold in the European Union. The Establishment Number is J3. Komicx Products also employs staff in St Francis Bay to run the vessels Komicx owns.

In March 1998 the company’s staff purchased a 50% share in the business. This empowered the staff to have effective control of the business and ownership of a major asset in the fishing industry. In 2005 a further 7% share was sold to the staff who now have the majority shareholding in Komicx.

Over the past few years Komicx has purchased companies as well as rights in order to expand its operation, hence The Komicx Products Group of Companies.

Today Komicx is involved in the following fish allocations awarded by Marine and Coastal management, Department of Environment Affairs, South Africa..

• Squid Permits (Loligo vulgaris) - Vessels: Aranda, Jack Robyn, Striker
• Rock Lobster (Jasus Lalandii) allocation - Vessel: Masiphumelele
• Pilchard (Sardinops sagax) allocation - Vessel: Nemo
• Hake (Merluccius capensis) Long Line allocation - Vessel: Shivon
• Boat Based Whale Watching Permit for False Bay - Vessel: Southern Right