Participation in the National Abalone Plan to combat poaching and recover the species
Halotis midae, commonly known as abalone, is a popular delicacy in countries such as China, and the high demand for the species is driving it to extinction (Photos: Alison Kock).
South Africa’s native abalone species, Haliotis midae, has experienced a significant decline due to widespread and intensive illegal harvesting. This is primarily driven by high demand from East Asian countries, such as China, where abalone is a delicacy and culturally important dish. To address this, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) collaborated with FishFORCE, TRAFFIC, and Nelson Mandela Bay University to organise a five-day workshop from 27 February to 3 March 2023 to develop a comprehensive national strategy and action plan. Stakeholders, including government departments, provincial institutions, local authorities, academia, private sector, civil society, community-based organisations, and representatives of abalone harvesting rights holders, participated in the deliberations. SANParks’ representatives from Environmental Crime Investigation, Parks and Scientific Services contributed to the workshop.
Following the workshop, the draft plan was shared for feedback with a wider stakeholder group, and the finalisation process is set to continue over the next year. The plan’s approach to disrupting the illicit abalone trade, alongside its emphasis on community engagement and integration into abalone governance, research and communication, fosters optimism about our ability to tackle the challenges.
This article was originally published in the 2022/2023 Research Report.
