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South Africa Cracks Down on Abalone Poaching with New Science-Led Strategy
A Struggle Beneath the Waves
Along the Western Cape’s coastline, where icy waters meet rocky coves, one of South Africa’s most valuable marine treasures is under siege. Abalone, a delicacy prized both locally and abroad, has become the target of an elaborate black-market trade that stretches far beyond the sea.
Now, the government says it’s time to turn the tide. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dr Dion George has unveiled a new direction for the embattled abalone industry, one that promises to protect both the ocean and the people whose livelihoods depend on it.
A Science-Based Recovery Plan
Speaking after finalising around 150 appeals from fishers seeking exemptions under the Marine Living Resources Act, Dr George made it clear that sustainability must come before profit. Many appeals were rejected after what the ministry described as a “rigorous verification process,” revealing that several applicants had previously violated permit conditions.
“I am deeply aware of the socio-economic realities facing fishers,” said Dr George. “But the abalone population is fragile. Years of overfishing and illegal harvesting have pushed it to the edge. Its recovery demands a science-based and responsible approach.”
The minister’s statement reflects a growing awareness that conservation cannot happen in isolation. For decades, overexploitation and poaching have hollowed out South Africa’s abalone population. In 2014, the government reverted abalone rights to the State to prevent total collapse, issuing temporary exemptions to sustain the industry. But those exemptions also opened space for organised criminal networks to thrive.
Criminal Networks and Coastal Crimes
The illegal abalone trade now rivals other forms of wildlife trafficking, with syndicates using South Africa’s coastline as part of a transnational smuggling route that links Asia, Africa, and Europe. Just this week, Operation Lockdown III and the Endangered Species K9 Unit uncovered 6,400 units of abalone worth an estimated R3.52 million at a drying facility in Primrose Park. Two foreign nationals, one Chinese and one Malawian, were arrested and are expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court.
That raid followed another in September, when authorities intercepted a truck near Rawsonville carrying 13,341 units of abalone valued at R3.3 million. The pair of busts highlights both the scale of the trade and the ongoing pressure facing law enforcement in curbing it.
Reforming the System
Dr George has instructed his department to review the abalone management framework, calling for policies that combine stricter oversight with community protection. “Sustainable management is key to securing the future of South Africa’s abalone fishery,” he said.
The new framework is expected to focus on tighter regulation, community participation, and scientific monitoring to ensure fishing quotas align with real recovery data. For coastal communities, this approach could help shift the narrative from survival through illegal means to sustainable livelihoods built on legal, traceable fishing.
A Shared Responsibility
The battle against abalone poaching isn’t just about saving a shellfish. It’s about defending South Africa’s marine heritage and the thousands of coastal families who rely on fishing for income. It’s also about recognising that conservation and community well-being must go hand in hand.
For now, the message from the government is firm but hopeful: if the country can unite science, justice, and local stewardship, the abalone may yet have a future in South African waters, and not just on the black market.
Also read: Family of Five Killed in Ekurhuleni Shack Fire as Teen Son Escapes
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Polity.org.za
