MILNERTON
WINNER BEST FREE
HUGE VARIETY OF POTS UP TO
NEWSPAPER IN SA
50% OFF
Offers valid until 19 November 2017. While stocks last.
X1U29XGH-AL151117
Woensdag, 1 November 2017 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | epos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za
@TygerBurger
TygerBurger
ABALONE POACHING: CONFISCATED ABALONE AUCTIONED OFF TO HELP MARINE LIFE
The fate of abalone RICHARD ROBERTS @richardjohn_rj
I
llegal abalone fishing along South African shores is something the authorities say they are greatly concerned about – with thousands of these precious sea snails already having been confiscated from poachers since the beginning of 2017. Recently three such major confiscations were made on the West Coast alone, including Montague Gardens, Milnerton and Table View. The abalone was most likely destined for the Far East where this marine resource is considered a delicacy. Last week TygerBurger approached the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to find out where exactly the confiscated units of abalone, or perlemoen as it is commonly known, end up. According to Carol Moses, department spokesperson, it is the norm for it to be taken to the department’s Marine Living Resources Fund (MLRF). “The confiscated abalone is auctioned off and the proceeds go to the fund,” Moses says.
Unlocking the economic potential of oceans The department has, however, taken drastic steps to prevent abalone poaching. “The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the MLRF are part of the multi-agency compliance and enforcement initiative that forms part of Operation Phakisa – Oceans Economy Initiative. Five of these agencies are mainly responsible for the protection of our ocean’s natural resources, including abalone,” Moses says. Operation Phakisa, meaning “hurry up” in Sesotho, also focuses on unlocking the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans, which could contribute up to R177 billion to the gross domestic product by 2033, and between 800 000 and 1 million direct jobs, according to the department’s website.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says it is concerned about the amount of illegal abalone being taken from the ocean. PHOTO: SAPS
“The department and its fund are also working with the organised international communities to deal with the global scourge of illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, including addressing the international illegal markets for abalone and other marine living resources. “This is indicative of the fact that the department is not merely concerned about, but is dealing with, the illegal harvesting of marine living resources.”
Ongoing education, awareness programme Asked how many arrests have been made in connection with abalone poaching since
the start of the year, and how much of this marine resource has been confiscated, Moses says that arrests are carried out by different law enforcement agencies and that the department would need to consult other role players to determine the exact number. However, Moses says that to educate the public about the importance of abalone, the department has an ongoing education, awareness and stakeholder engagement programme in place. The most recent abalone busts in the West Coast area occurred on: . Thursday 3 August when a 32-year-old Congolese national was arrested in Madeira
R85 p.p.
BUY YOUR TRANSFORMERS EXHIBITION TICKETS AT THE SPECIAL PRICE OF R85 p.p BY USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS.
LINK
Crescent, Table View, for operating an illegal fish processing plant. A total of R23 357 worth of dried abalone and 3915 units of wet abalone were found and confiscated. . Tuesday 19 September when the police arrested a 54-year-old man from Lavender Hill in Table View with 200 kilograms of abalone. . Thursday 19 October when the police arrested two suspects in Milnerton in connection with abalone, shark fins and sea cucumber, as well as tik with an estimated street value of R16 000. V What is your opinion on this article? Let us know at briewe@tygerburger.co.za.
QR CODE
MOBILE
Dial Linda at
073 206 2859 with shortcode People.
http://bit.ly/2xotZdh
X1U29VEW-AL011117
STAR JASMINE
WE’VE GONE POTTY
WAS 79.95
NOW
24.95
PATCHED EGG POT (MEDIUM)
WAS 369.95
NOW
ASSORTED HERBS
WAS 26.95
NOW
11.95 HERB PLANTER
WAS 199.95
NOW
www.stodels.com
99.95
CAPE DAISY
WAS 39.95
NOW
21.95
TERRACOTTA PLANTER (MEDIUM)
WAS 219.95
NOW
99.95
LEMON EUREKA
WAS 149.95
DELICIOUS MONSTER
WAS 89.95
NOW
NOW
109.95
39.95
TERRACOTTA POT CITRUS (MEDIUM)
2 TONE WHITE POT
WAS 399.95
WAS 109.95
NOW
199.95
NOW
INDOOR PLANT
59.95
199.95 CONEBUSH
WAS 119.95
NOW
64.95
TERRACOTTA “FLAT RIM" BOWL (LARGE)
WAS 339.95
NOW
149.95
Offers valid until 5 November 2017. While stocks last.
Bellville 021 919 1106 | Milnerton 021 528 4000 | Kenilworth 021 671 9050 | Constantia 021 794 2221 | Somerset West 021 852 7400 X1U2DC91-AL011117