Poaching Escalates With Re-opening of Economy

A 22.8% reduction in the total allowable catch of west coast rock lobster for the 2020/21 season has not gone down too well with either the commercial industry, small-scale fishers, or recreational fishers. Further salt gets added to the wound when news stories break such as the seizure of more than 6000 lobster tails last week.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the ban on the use of beaches was conducive to a noticeable reduction in poaching activity, this scourge is now back in full force.