South African authorities sound alarm over widespread abalone poaching

The South African National Parks (SANParks) department, a government entity responsible for conserving and overseeing South Africa's national parks, has voiced concern on the growing illegal harvesting of abalone in the country, calling for stronger collaboration between communities and the nation’s government in ending the illicit trade.In addition to the effects the illicit trade has on the stock’s population, the increasing illegal harvesting and subsequent smuggling of abalone to Asian markets is undermining the financial performance of fishing companies in South Africa, eating into their revenues and depriving the government of taxes.“Activities involving the illegal harvesting of abalone and succulent plants – and possibly reptiles – have increased,” SANParks Chairperson Pam Yako told government officials earlier this year in the nation’s administrative capital of Pretoria.A research report conducted on behalf of SANParks added that the trade is “primarily driven by high ...