Government CT abalone storage facility robbed
Government plans to review the process of selling and storing confiscated abalone, including stopping selling abalone, following a robbery at the department’s storage facility in Cape Town on Thursday.
“An undisclosed amount of abalone bags were stolen from the department of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries’ abalone storage facility in Paarden Island in Cape Town on 29 October 2015,” the department said in a statement on Friday.
“A group of armed and masked men overpowered security personnel tasked with protecting the storage facility and took away abalone bags that were in the storage. The stolen abalone was confiscated by the department during previous operations aimed at curbing illegal fishing of abalone in the province,” it said.
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana rebuked this criminal act and called on law enforcement agencies to move swiftly in arresting those responsible.
“Abalone is one of the important species that form part of our oceans economy. It is important that we protect it from illegal fishing. Our efforts to do so will not be derailed by thugs who want to steal resources meant for the development of our people and economy,” Zokwana said in the statement.
The Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA) was based on the sustainable use of marine living resources, including protection services. It was therefore important to note that although section 63 of the MLRA allowed for the sale of confiscated marine products, this was intended for goodwill of reinvesting the proceeds from the sale of confiscated fish towards the fight against illegal fishing.
“However, this may have been open to abuse which has the potential to encourage corruption and collusion. As a department, our efforts should be focused on prevention of poaching by improving our efforts of protection of marine resources rather than confiscation of poached goods,” Zokwana said.
He planned to “review the process of selling and storage of the confiscated abalone by the department, including options to outsource the function completely or in part, or even stop the selling”.
Acting Deputy Director General of Fisheries Siphokazi Ndudane said police and the Hawks were investigating the incident.
“We encourage community members to provide any information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.”
ANA
File photo: Gallo Images