The Department of Marine and Coastal Management is clamping down on small scale poaching along the Southern Cape coast, between Hangklip and Buffelsjag, where large numbers of recreational fishermen are stripping the waters of crayfish and perlemoen.
While large-scale poaching by perlemoen syndicates has taken a dive following successful operations by members of the Organised Crime Investigative Unit, the policing of smaller scale poaching has been neglected.
Chief marine conservation inspector Gert van Eeden said that during Operation Echo - a two-week anti-poaching drive earlier this year - 14 marine inspectors from Sea Point, Hout Bay, Kalk Bay, Gordon's Bay and Hermanus arrested 65 poachers in the area.
Van Eeden confirmed that 52 of these were recreational fishermen, who are allowed only four crayfish or perlemoen per catch. The 52 alleged poachers are set to face criminal charges, while 13 others paid admission of guilt fines totalling R7 240.
Six vehicles, a rubber duck, diving equipment, 1 556 perlemoen and 1 220 crayfish were seized during the raids.
Reporters saw on Sunday how the inspectors, who sometimes worked 18 hours a day, trapped the poachers under dangerous circumstances.
In a number of incidents captured on video, the inspectors are threatened with their lives.
Observing through telescopes from koppies overlooking the coast, a surveillance team sent out a ground unit in a 4x4 vehicle, giving them a description and the registration number of the poachers' vehicle. The ground unit would often be caught up in a high-speed chase across rough terrain.
After an arrest, the poachers are ordered to accompany the marine inspectors to where their catch was stashed for collection later.
"We get help from the police dog unit and public order policing if they are available, but most of the time it is only the marine inspectors who carry out the operation," Van Eeden said.
"The major problem we face is when undersized perlemoen and kreef are taken from the sea."
In a year or two, he warned, there will be no perlemoen left within the full range of the tidal zone.
"The recreational fishermen have no conscience. Size is no big matter for these divers and this is going to deplete our resources," Van Eeden said.
He said that in many fishing communities like Hawston, children are taught how to poach.
"Our work will now also have to focus on educating children to protect the species."
Further similar operations, focusing on small-scale poaching, would be held later this year.