The Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has announced that on 22 September it stopped an R5-million abalone operation at Robben Island and nine alleged poachers have been arrested.
The DFFE reveals that on 22 September DFFE Fishery Control Officers and law enforcement officers intercepted a truck with dried abalone near Rawsonville in the Western Cape. The truck was transporting 13 341 dried abalone with a weight of about 840 kg with an estimated value of R5 million.
A day later, on 23 September, law enforcement officers discovered an abalone poaching operation with about 20 divers involved. Despite the difficulties posed by rough terrain and concealment tactics used by divers, law enforcement units with help from the SAPS drone unit managed to arrest nine suspects and recover diving equipment and gear.
DFFE Minister, Dr Dion George, welcomed the swift and coordinated efforts of enforcement DFFE officials, the SAPS, the City of Cape Town Marine Unit and other enforcement agencies, which resulted in the disruption of a large-scale illegal abalone poaching operations at Robben Island on 22 and 23 September 2025. He said criminal syndicates need to know South African laws do not tolerate lawlessness and the misuse of the country’s natural assets.
“Those who exploit our natural resources will face the full consequences of the law,” he said. “These arrests, and other recent ones, are indicative of our ongoing conservation efforts supported by stronger, tactical law enforcement.
He also expressed gratitude to everyone involved in these operations. “Their hard work and sacrifice are crucial in safeguarding South Africa’s marine biodiversity, Minister George added.
St Francis Chronicle 