MPP Andricus van der Westhuizen says: I welcome the conviction of two individuals on 260 charges related to abalone poaching following a court case that commenced in 2008. In the last quarter of 2019, abalone poaching was reclassified as a serious crime which would be investigated by the SAPS Organised Crime Unit.
van der Westhuizen continued: “A recent finding of the provincial Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning is that the poaching of illegal abalone is valued at a staggering R1.6 billion in the Western Cape.
These convictions therefore come as a win for the fishing community and preservation of our oceanic environment.
I have recently submitted questions to Dr. Ivan Meyer, Provincial Minister of Agriculture, regarding the Western Cape Government’s position on the decentralisation of the fishing industry, which includes abalone, to the provinces. The decentralisation of the industry may allow the provincial government to effectively – and safely – draw further investment to the abalone farming industry, which stands to benefit rural coastal communities in our province.”
The Western Cape is the province with the largest count of abalone. We also have a diverse ocean wildlife that contributes significantly to the fishing and tourism industries. The decentralisation of control over our marine resources will also allow the province to conserve abalone. Current levels of abalone poaching may lead to the extinction of this resource.
MPP van der Westhuizen adds: “80% of abalone farms are in the Western Cape and they function as a primary employer in many coastal communities. The opportunity exists for eight to ten abalone ranches in the province, allowing the industry the opportunity to address the issue of poverty which is seen to contribute to the high levels of poaching.”
The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape remains committed to the safe-guarding of our diverse marine ecosystem and the preservation of our biodiversity.
