NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 1024
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES:
Dr P J Rabie (DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries:
QUESTION:
(1) How many tons of abalone is estimated to be poached each year;
(2) What action is her department taking to (a) prevent abalone
poaching and (b) actively protect abalone resources? NW1250E
REPLY:
1) It is very difficult to obtain precise data on the quantity of abalone
poached because illegal catches are, by their very nature, unregulated
and unreported. However, the amount of abalone confiscated is the
following:
2008 - 43 tons
2009 â 54 tons
2010 â 57 tons
2011 â 71 tons
2012 â 58 tons
These values include both wet (shucked) and dried abalone.
2) (a) The Department has developed and is implementing a strategy to deal
with and to curb and reduce abalone poaching throughout the South
African coastline.
(b) This strategy is called the Integrated Fisheries Security Strategy
(IFSS). The objectives of the IFSS are:
i. To prevent and stabilize the illegal harvesting of marine living
resources in identified hotspots,
ii. To effectively deploy resources in the identified priority areas or
hotspots,
iii. To allow for the recovery of fish stocks,
iv. To intensify existing operations and engage partners, stakeholders and
other joint law enforcement agencies in a multi-agency approach to
address organized poaching, as well as,
v. Identified agencies to engage and commit the required resources