12 arrested for perlemoen poaching

Marine officials in the Eastern Cape have arrested 12 men suspected of poaching perlemoen in Algoa Bay. The arrests come less than two weeks after a successful conviction against a perlemoen syndicate.

Sanparks officials first arrested two men suspected of being perlemoen poachers. They called in the help of the Environmental Protection Vessels who then searched the island and surrounds for more suspects.

About 10 more men were arrested, and diving equipment, including a lever used to remove the perlemoen away from the rocks, was confiscated.
The men are facing at least two charges each.

New legislation that prohibits diving at Bird Island and several other places around the country come into effect on Friday.