poachers, confiscate boats and prevent poaching
28 May 2007
The effective deployment of the Environmental Protection Vessels (EPVs)
during the past few weeks yielded significant results once again as poachers
were arrested, boats seized and numerous poaching activities prevented. During
the latest voyage of the Sarah Baartman, the inspectors, captain and crew of
the Sarah Baartman arrested a diver at Bird Island, scared of three super
ducks, thereby prevented abalone poaching and fined 3 fishing vessels for
contravention of fishing permit conditions. The Sarah Baartman struck again
thereafter and confiscated a ski boat and arrested three suspects in the
Kleinmond area for west coast rock lobster poaching. This arrest took place
late at night and more than 20 crayfish traps, which were detected by the
on-board equipment of the Sarah Baartman, were also removed from the water. In
a separate incident fines to the value of R13 250 were issued for contravention
of fishing permit conditions in the St Helena Bay area.
The Sarah Baartman further rendered assistance when two fishing vessels
collided at Dassen Island by providing situational reports indicated the exact
location of the collision, depth of the water where the sunken vessel lay and
whether or not any oil or diesel was leaking form the vessel. This information
proved useful in immediately addressing the situation and minimising the impact
on the marine environment. In a separate incident information was received that
abalone poachers were preparing to launch from Harbour Island to poach in the
Cape Point area. The Ruth First was tasked to carry out a visible patrol
between Gordon's Bay and Cape Point in order to keep the poachers at bay. This
strategy worked exceptionally well as the poachers' boats where unable to
launch to carry out their criminal activities.
The Lilian Ngoyi was called in to assist with the recovery of a Research
Buoy that had come adrift. The inspector, captain and crew rose to the occasion
even though the weather conditions were not all that favourable. The Lillian
Ngoyi also recently managed to apprehend a super duck in the Port Elizabeth
area. It appears that the super duck had only one operational engine and did
not comply with any South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)
Regulations. The inspectors, captain and crew of the Lillian Ngoyi handed this
super duck over to SAMSA. The owner of the super duck paid a detention fee of
R1 000. In addition the Owner and Skipper were each fined R5 000, generating a
total of R11 000 00 in fees.
The Florence Mkhize, the high speed chase vessel, continues to serve as a
deterrent in her role against abalone poaching. The Florence Mhkize
participated in a joint South African Police Service (SAPS) operation where an
arrest was made at Robben Island. A large super duck and eight divers where
arrested with a consignment of abalone. Since then there has been no reports of
abalone poaching at Robben Island, signalling a drastic decline in poaching in
and around the Island. The Victoria Mxenge has maintained a continued presence
around Robben Island, where she had been anchored at the Island at night
conducting regular visible patrols with a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB).
This system, which is employed with co-operation of the SAPS Port of Entry
Division, seems to have been effective in keeping poaching at Bay and is set to
be intensified.
The Victoria Mxenge had also issued a R2 500 fine to a fishing vessel for
non compliance to fishing permit conditions. In another successful operation,
the special investigation team of the Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism arrested three suspects and confiscated two consignments of shucked
abalone in Beaufort West during the early hours of Friday morning, 25 May 2007.
This followed intense surveillance efforts. The team worked throughout the
night and followed the trail of information related to two vehicles leaving the
Overberg region with two consignments of abalone, heading towards Gauteng. A
BMW, a Ford bakkie and a trailer were also confiscated.
For enquiries contact:
Blessing Manale
Tel: 012 310 3457
Cell: 083 677 1630
E-mail: bmanale@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
28 May 2007
