Perlemoen poaching fines upped
2003-10-08 18:29
Cape Town - Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Valli Moosa announced on Wednesday a huge increase in fines for perlemoen (abalone) poaching.
The maximum fine for poaching perlemoen goes up to R800 000 from the previous maximum of R40 :000 as a result of the amendment to the perlemoen regulations which came into effect on Wednesday.
The new stiff fines are expected to have a significant deterrent effect on perlemoen poaching.
"The increased fine is part of a suite of amendments to the regulations designed to deter offenders and increase convictions," Moosa said in a statement.
According to Moosa's department a common legal defence employed by those charged with perlemoen poaching was to deny that what they were charged with - illegal perlemoen - was in fact perlemoen.
The state was then required to prove, by leading the evidence of a marine scientist in court, that the accused were in possession of perlemoen and not some other specie, such as "siffie," also known as Venus ear.
Definition widened
The department said the definition of perlemoen had now been widened in the amended regulations from "haliotis midae" to the "genus of haliotis." This would make it easier for prosecutors to obtain convictions. It would also reduce the burden on the department of having to make a scientist available to identify perlemoen and testify in numerous court hearings.
Between Friday and Tuesday night, police and Marine and Coastal Management officials attached to Operation Neptune, the anti-poaching unit, had confiscated a total of 3 154 perlemoen worth about R250 000 and arrested 19 people in separate incidents between Hangklip and Arniston in the Western Cape.
In the latest perlemoen bust in the early hours of Wednesday officials confiscated 2 350 perlemoen worth about R190 000 when a suspect vehicle transporting the shellfish left the road and crashed into a ditch near Gansbaai.
Hermanus police spokesperson Inspector Eben Groenewald said officials were following a suspect vehicle at about 04:30. When the driver of the car saw the flashing blue lights of a police vehicle ahead, he applied brakes, lost control and crashed into a ditch.
- SAPA