Abalone poaching – no end in sight
And so it continues..abalone poaching in the Gansbaai area is still going strong, despite efforts by law enforcement agencies to counter this environmental crime.
Little has changed and continous reports of poachers – sometimes bakkie loads full and in full gear and in view of the public, continues seemingly unabated.
Reports the past two weeks from Pearly Beach, De Kelders and Kleinbaai is indicative that this is a crime that the powers that be cannot stop and due to their inabalities will continue for as long as ….the divers are present.
This photograph shows poachers in close proximity of a southern right whale…with no regard for the area they dive in or the public present.
I feel that if the authorities really wanted to stop poaching it could be done easily by employing the army to patrol known areas around the clock and impose stiff sentences on the culprits. I have been a Leagal abalone diver for many years and our quotas have been cut year after year because stocks have been damaged.