17 'poachers' held in Cape

2008-02-14 17:00

Cape Town - Fifteen people have been arrested in a nightlong anti-poaching operation at Robben Island, the Department of Environmental Affairs said on Thursday.

Robben Island was one of four areas where diving was banned in a bid to promote the recovery of wild perlemoen stock, it said in a statement.

Department officials and police, aided by a police helicopter, had taken up positions on and around the island on Wednesday night.

"When the suspects realised their boat was taken over by law enforcement officials, they swam to the island where they attempted to hide."

All of them were arrested by 09:00.

A "super" rubber duck, 77 perlemoen and shucking equipment were confiscated.

In terms of penalties gazetted earlier this months, the alleged poachers face a fine of up to R500 000 or a prison sentence of up to two years.

In a separate incident, at about 01:30, another super duck was confiscated at Hout Bay harbour after law enforcement officials saw two men entering the harbour in the boat "presumably intending to poach".

The skipper was arrested under the Merchant Shipping Act and his companion for an outstanding warrant of arrest linked to another poaching case.

- SAPA