Agri-podcast: Illegal abalone trade costing the country millions

The minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, says illegal trade of abalone is costing the country about R859 million a year. He says efforts to curb the illegal trade have failed, and the population of South African abalone is declining at a rapid pace. The minister says on average of 2 000 tons of abalone are bagged annually by poachers, 20 times the legal take, he also acknowledged that the abalone sector needed a complete overhaul in terms of fishery management. Zokwana says the department would have to address the issue of poaching by involving various interested parties such as abalone divers, small-scale fishermen, abalone aquaculture farmers, and members of the public. He adds that there is still a need for a complete and impactful approach to better manage the abalone sector, which he adds is under enormous threat. Zokwane says it is very important for the livelihood of fishing communities, the economy and the country at large to look after this industry. He added that the department also had to reconsider the rights allocation in the abalone sector. He said the biggest challenge with the illegal trade was strong market demand, which was exacerbated by high unemployment levels in coastal communities. According to a new report, poachers had stripped South African coastal waters of at least 96 million abalones during the past 18 years.