Minister Dion George welcomes efforts by law enforcement officers for the successful seizures of illegal Abalone

07 March 2025

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, has welcomed the swift and coordinated efforts of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the South African Police Service (SAPS), the City of Cape Town Marine Unit, and other enforcement agencies in tackling the recent incident of illegal harvesting of abalone at Robben Island.

"The scale and brazenness of this illegal activity are deeply concerning, but the professionalism and dedication of our enforcement teams have once again demonstrated our unwavering commitment to protecting South Africa’s marine resources," said Minister George. "I extend my sincere appreciation to all those involved for their tireless work in preventing the exploitation of our marine biodiversity."

From 28 February to 2 March 2025, enforcement officials successfully disrupted a large-scale illegal poaching operation involving approximately fifty snorkel divers. Despite the challenges posed by the rough terrain and strategic concealment tactics used by the divers, enforcement teams managed to apprehend eleven suspects and recover over 4,300 illegally harvested abalone, valued at approximately R1.3 million.

This operation follows a series of successful interventions in the last month (February), where law enforcement officers intercepted four significant abalone-related cases in a single day. On 13 February 2025, coordinated operations in Glencairn, Muizenberg, Grabouw, and Botriver led to the seizure of thousands of illegally harvested abalone and the arrest of multiple suspects.

Minister George reiterated the government's firm stance against illegal fishing and called on the public to report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities. "We will continue strengthening our enforcement capabilities and working closely with our partners to ensure that those who exploit our natural resources face the full consequences of the law." said Minister George.

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to every officer and partner involved in these operations. Their hard work and sacrifice are crucial in safeguarding South Africa’s marine biodiversity," added Minister George.

For media enquiries, please contact

Thobile Zulu-Molobi    
Mobile: 082 513 7154   
E-mail: tmolobi@dffe.gov.za

or

Peter Mbelengwa    
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E-mail:  pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za