It has been rather quiet on the poaching front over the last few days. This can be expected due to unstable sea conditions along with increased traffic through the area due to the Hermanus Whale Festival.
On Friday, 29 September 2017, the same vehicle we reported on 28 September 2017 attempted to drop divers on Hangklip Road. When our response team was spotted they turned around and as we were escorting the vehicle out of the area a second vehicle was entering the area.
The second vehicle flashed their headlights at the first vehicle and the team identified divers in the second vehicle. As we turned around to follow the second vehicle, thankfully an A.S.K. security vehicle passed us and we requested their assistance to escort the first vehicle out of the area. When the team reached the second vehicle on Hangklip Road they escorted them from the area.
Marine Anti-Poaching Unit notified DAFF and Cape Nature to be on the lookout for both vehicles in the wider area as they would be looking for another entry point into the ocean.
The response team then received a call confirming that divers were spotted in Sea Farm and made their way to the area.
Divers were observed and swam out to Hangklip. The team spent hours walking the coast line in search of the assumed abalone that was destroyed on the day, but unfortunately they were not able to find anything.
No further poaching activity was reported on the day.
We are doing our best to protect our marine life and prevent the destruction thereof, but we need your assistance to get to the divers before they enter the ocean and cause harm. If you are not sure what you should be looking out for and when you should report activity, reach out to the team and we will send you some information to assist.