A 35-year-old man from Kleinmond in the Overberg was arrested on Thursday March 3 just outside Plettenberg Bay with 29 units of abalone in his possession.

The alleged poacher, who was nabbed red-handed in the ocean at The Crags, is set to appear in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrates’ Court today.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies says the arrest shows that the protection of living marine resources remains key to policing priorities in the Western Cape.

“This commitment ensured that the suspected abalone poacher finds himself behind bars.”

Spies says Rural Flying Squad members conducted patrols along the N2 highway at Plettenberg Bay on Thursday afternoon when they were alerted of possible illicit poaching activities in the water near The Crags.

They also alerted rangers from SANParks and upon arrival arrested the man with the abalone in his possession.

The suspect remains in custody and faces a charge of possession of abalone.

Western Cape police management commended those involved with the arrest.

“Such interventions will continue as part of concerted efforts by police and other law enforcement agencies to bring the unlawful harvesting as well as trafficking of our valuable living marine resources along the coast to a halt,” says Spies.