Poachers caught in the act in Sardinia Bay

The bust is a first of its kind as both divers were arrested whilst still in posession of the endangered resource and also underwater.

MCM Chief inspector Don van Niekerk said that a vessel was dispatched after receiving a tip-off about poaching in the vicinity. The skipper of the poaching vessel managed to escape but had to abandon the divers in the process.

One diver who had earlier surfaced, was apprehended while trying to reach the shore. A second diver was apprehended whilst still on the seabed.

Fifty-seven kilograms of perlemoen were seized during the bust.

Further reading:
Two perlemoen poachers arrested underwater at Sardinia Bay