Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape — Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Humansdorp K9 Unit arrested three men on the N2 highway near Jeffreys Bay on suspicion of conspiracy to commit abalone poaching.
The arrests occurred after police on routine patrol grew suspicious of a vehicle’s occupants travelling along the N2. The vehicle was stopped, and the three suspects were detained. Authorities seized diving equipment from the vehicle, along with the vehicle itself. No abalone was found in their possession, resulting in charges of conspiracy rather than illegal possession.
Abalone, known locally as perlemoen, is a large marine gastropod mollusc belonging to the genus Haliotis. The species targeted in South African waters is primarily Haliotis midae, an endemic species found only along the country’s coastline, from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape. This slow-growing sea snail clings to rocky substrates in shallow coastal waters and kelp forests, where it grazes on seaweed. Adult H. midae can reach shell lengths of up to 20-30 centimetres and weigh several hundred grams, with a distinctive ear-shaped shell that is rough and camouflaged on the outside but lined with iridescent mother-of-pearl on the inside—a feature that inspired its Afrikaans name, derived from the Dutch for “mother of pearl.”
H. midae is highly prized as a delicacy, particularly in East Asian markets, where its tender foot meat is considered a luxury food item, often served fresh, dried, or canned. The mollusc’s high market value stems from its succulent texture and perceived health benefits in traditional cuisine. However, this demand has driven intense overexploitation. Abalone is protected under South Africa’s Marine Living Resources Act, with strict quotas on legal harvesting to allow populations to recover. Despite these measures, wild stocks have declined dramatically due to illegal poaching, which far exceeds sustainable levels.
The charge of conspiracy to commit abalone poaching applies when individuals are caught with specialised diving gear—such as wetsuits, oxygen tanks, and prying tools—intended for underwater harvesting, even if no abalone has yet been taken. This proactive enforcement approach enables law enforcement to disrupt operations before the resource is depleted.
The three suspects remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court. Police have not disclosed their ages or identities pending the court proceedings. The seized vehicle and equipment are being held as exhibits, and investigations continue to establish potential links to broader poaching syndicates active in the Kouga area.
This arrest underscores ongoing challenges in protecting South Africa’s marine biodiversity. Abalone poaching has persisted for decades along the coastline, fuelled by international black-market demand. Operations involving SAPS specialised units, including K9 teams trained to detect hidden marine products, frequently patrol highways and coastal routes used for transporting gear or harvested abalone. Such efforts aim to safeguard a species critical to the coastal ecosystem, where abalone plays a role in maintaining kelp forest health by controlling algae growth.
