Poachers feeling the heat...
2006-08-10 23:09
Port Elizabeth - It appears as if police efforts to stop perlemoen (abalone) poachers in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole are bearing fruit as the "marauders" are moving now to smaller towns along the Eastern Cape coast.
Police say poaching is intensifying near towns such as Port Alfred, Canon Rocks, Boknes, Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay.
Captain Mali Govender of Grahamstown police said poaching had taken place occasionally in the Port Alfred district in the past three years, but had intensified tenfold recently.
This was apparently after the water got too hot in the Port Elizabeth area.
Police confiscated 683 perlemoen with a street value of R136 000 in July. Bags, tools and diving equipment valued at about R45 000 were also confiscated.
Govender said: "We held awareness campaigns in towns and residents helped us.
Boat and car seized
"We used a helicopter as well as foot and vehicle patrols. Road barricades and look-out points also worked successfully."
A boat valued at R30 000 and a car valued at R20 000 were confiscated and traffic fines to the value of R6 100 were issued.
Govender confirmed that no residents had been arrested for perlemoen-related crime.
The police's area commissioner, director Vakala Moyake, said perlemoen poaching along the Eastern Cape coastal area had become a big source of concern.
"We consider these problems in a serious light. We will do our best to protect the marine life along our coast and prevent poaching."
Superintendent Priscilla Naidu of Uitenhage area police said poaching in Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay had been a problem for quite a while.
"Police are investigating perlemoen poaching and are involved in anti-poaching campaigns. We regularly receive complaints from the community about poaching activity at sea."