(1) Yes, the possibility that abalone is being poached from boats has always been investigated.
(1)(b) As has been reported previously, the Department has developed and implemented the Integrated Fisheries Security Strategy (IFSS) which aims at protecting marine resources in general, but with the specific objective of containing the poaching of abalone. The other joint law enforcement partners have been part of this initiative.
(2) Yes, the Department investigates every possibility related to poaching activities.
(3) In order to enhance the Department’s efforts to contain the poaching of abalone as well as other marine resources, Cabinet approved the Operation Phakisa programme for the ocean environment. One of the aims of Operation Phakisa is to implement an overarching and integrated ocean governance framework for sustainable growth of the ocean economy in order to maximise socio-economic benefits. This led to the establishment of the Marine Protection Services and Governance Lab or initiative (MPG). The MPG Lab is Initiative 5 of the project. All the law enforcement partners have been instructed to work in an integrated and co-ordinated manner in order to contain all illegal activities (abalone poaching included) in the maritime environment. This enforcement initiative is currently taking place, with successes, along the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape coast lines as part of the pilot project.