Port Edward snare sweep flags mussel poaching
Umtamvuna Marine Conservancy says signs of extensive mussel and Strelitzia seed poaching show the coastline is under pressure.
A snare sweep in Port Edward showed signs of rampant mussel poaching
No fewer than 18 people, including two Snare Aware representatives, turned up for the Umtamvuna Marine Conservancy’s (UMC) snare sweep in Port Edward last weekend.
“As with UMC’s previous sweep, no snares were found, but judging from the presence of large shell middens, which illustrate long-term unchecked mussel and limpet exploitation, there is still an enormous amount of marine life poaching occurring in the area between Port Edward and the Zolwane River,” says UMC chairperson Renée Alcock.
According to Snare Aware, on the one hand, the lack of snares is good news, but it could also mean that poachers had already depleted the area.
There was indeed little evidence of wildlife, besides the two reedbuck that were spotted.
Berendine Jordaan, who leads UMC’s anti-poaching and snaring efforts, says that while no snares were found, the sweep was undoubtedly an eye-opener regarding the indiscriminate mussel and limpet poaching that is occurring along that stretch of coastline.
“The UMC will focus on finding a solution or deterrent to this marine poaching in the coming months,” she said.
She thanked Snare Aware for assisting and guiding the UMC team, saying their passion and dedication to eradicate poaching and snaring were admirable and inspiring.
Jordaan also thanked the two representatives of GP Security for their support and for their assistance in recovering a large amount of freshly picked strelitzia seeds and tools for picking, as well as pursuing the perpetrators.
“Hopefully, the seed pickers will move away from that area soon, as we are planning to have more visibility there in the future,” she said.
“There are many residents in Port Edward who genuinely care about our natural environment, and it is those residents who will make a difference here. As a community, we cannot allow this to continue.
“We plan to conduct more sweeps in the future and prioritise anti-poaching efforts as a conservancy,” she said.
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