Stand against poaching needed

Writer: De Waal Steyn.

We will not let up on the pressure against illegal poaching and poachers, and will continue to confiscate abalone that is illegally removed from our oceans,” said Brig Donovan Heilbron, SAPS Cluster Commander for the Overberg.

This follows a week of high tension in Kleinmond after Clarence Drive was blocked by burning tyres and protesting poachers pelted motorists with stones. The blockade followed the arrest of five men for possession of abalone. Diving equipment was also seized. One man was arrested for public violence after the protest.

On Sunday, several shots were fired at poachers by a member of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) after a high-speed chase in Pringle Bay.

According to Heilbron, the DEFF member tried to stop a bakkie carrying poached abalone, and a chase and shoot-out ensued. The poachers fled with most of their loot in another vehicle after the member’s vehicle collided with the bakkie. One bag of perlemoen left behind by the poachers was confiscated.

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