Five men sentenced for illegal trade of lobsters

FIVE men who were arrested for the illegal trade of  lobsters were sentenced to a fine of R50 000 or 12 months imprisonment.

The men aged between 19 and 51 were arrested on charges of possession of East Coast Rock Lobsters in May this year.

Westville SAPS communications officer, Capt Elizabeth Squires, said at about 6.30pm on Thursday, 24 May members from SAP Coastal Patrols in the Harbor and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries received information of marine products being taken out of the harbour.

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“Police tracked the vehicle to the underground parking at the Pavilion Shopping Mall. The vehicle was found with the tail gate open and a deep freezer in the back. Inside the freezer was 575 East Coast lobsters to the value of R30 000,” said Squires.

The docket was allocated to Det/Sgt Philani Dumakude from Westville SAPS. Dumakude continued with investigation and worked closely with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries until the five were sentenced on Friday, 12 October.

Here is the regulations for fishing East Coast Rock Lobsters , according to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:

• No person is allowed to collect East Coast Rock Lobster during closed season: 1 November to the last day of February of the following year
• No person is allowed to fishing, collect, disturb or be in possession of any East Coast Rock Lobster smaller than 65mm (measured in a straight line from the point where the tail meets the body to the notch between the supra-orbital spines)
• No person may collect more than eight East Coast Rock Lobsters per day
• No person may be in possession of, or transport more than eight East Coast Rock Lobsters at any time
• No person shall engage in fishing, collecting or disturbing east coast rock lobster with the use of a vessel
• No person shall engage in fishing, collecting or disturbing any East Coast rock lobster with a trap other than a flat circular trap with no sides and which the diameter does not exceed 30cm, or by means of baited hooks