07/02/2005: The preventative
policing strategy employed by the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's environmental
protection vessel, the Lilian Ngoyi, yielded
results again this weekend as nine alleged
poachers were arrested and 1500 abalone,
a vehicle and rubber duck seized on Saturday,
5 February 2005.
The arrest took place after the Lilian Ngoyi,
together with the Department's land-based
West Coast anti-poaching team, observed
a group of divers who behaved suspiciously
in the Saldanah area for two days. The alleged
poachers, several from Hawston and Arniston,
are expected to appear in court today, Monday
7 February 2005. The total value of seized
items is estimated at R700 000,00 (abalone
R250 000,00; vehicle R200 000,00; rubber-duck
R250 000,00).
Since the Lilian Ngoyi has been in operation
two months ago, 3 vessels were seized, spot
fines to the value of more than R30 000,00
were issued and the illegal use of rubber-ducks
in the area usually targeted by poachers,
has considerably been reduced from an average
of 16 per week to approximately one per
week, signifying the deterrent success rate
of the Lilian Ngoyi.
The Department took delivery of the Lilian
Ngoyi in November last year, being the first
of three state-of-the-art in-shore Environmental
Protection Vessels commissioned by the Department
in its efforts to boost fishery compliance.
South Africa's first off-shore environmental
protection vessel, the Sarah Baartman, was
officially handed over to the Department
in January this year.
