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SA set to cancel perlemoen quotas

http://www.news24.com/Green/News/SA-to-ban-perlemoen-fishing-20140523

Cape Town – Communities that rely on the perlemoen industry will have to brace themselves as commercial perelemoen quotas may be cancelled.

According to a report by Die Burger, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson is set to cancel commercial perelemoen fishing.

Joemat-Pettersson bases this decision on the dwindling breeding population.

This will be a heavy blow to divers who rely on the perlemoen industry for their livelihood.

Stephen Maree, a commercial diver was shocked at the possibility and believes that government has no right to take away this from the community.

In 2012 Parliament issued a warning, that quotas could be cancelled because of poaching.

Joemat-Pettersson noted that a public meeting will be held with community representatives in Towns like Hawston in the southern Cape.

The minister also said that alternatives would be given to communities. Divers may have the opportunity to instead catch red steenbras.

The perlemoen industry is roughly worth R100m a year according to Die Burger.

There is a huge concern that this banning may increase perlemoen poaching , according to the department spokesperson, Lionel Adendorf.

Poachers should be aware that there are more resources being allocated in order to decrease perlemoen poaching.

In January five men were arrested in Cape Town for illegal possession of perlemoen worth an estimated R1.5m.

Police found 18 676 perlemoen pieces, nine unshelled perlemoen and crayfish.

Perlemoen grows slowly and reach sexual maturity only after 7 years according to the City of Cape Town.