Fish poaching battle continues in Richards Bay

During a patrol of the Mzingazi canal, 1.2km of gill nets were recovered, as well as a poacher’s boat.

Crabs were among the marine life caught and killed in the gill nets

A new antipoaching initiative hopes to bring the Department of Forestry and Fisheries on board permanently in the Zululand area.

The fight to protect our coastline and waterways from poachers continues, which is evident in the recent haul pulled in by a newly formed anti-poaching initiative in Richards Bay, Zululand Observer reported.

The task team consists of Meerensee CPF, Richards Bay SAPS and DAFF (Department of Forestry and Fisheries) – the latter having taken over as monitors of KZN’s coastline from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

During a patrol of the Mzingazi canal 1.2km of gill nets were recovered, as well as a poacher’s boat.

“While patrolling the Mzingazi canal at about 10pm on Thursday night, one of our patrollers spotted the poacher’s boat,” said Meerensee CPF patroller Corrie Pretorius.

“We responded and found the first net stretched across the canal.”