Robben Island.

• Nine people were arrested for attempting to illegally harvest marine resources in the Robben Island marine protected area.
• Officials intercepted suspects using rubber ducks, with one group attempting to evade arrest by ramming a departmental vessel.
• Minister Willie Aucamp praised the efforts of law enforcement.

Nine people were arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally harvest marine resources within the Robben Island marine protected area.

The arrests carried out by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) occurred during two separate incidents earlier this week.

The first unfolded on Tuesday evening, when two rubber-ducks approached the protected area.

Department spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said officials responded immediately, but the group attempted to evade arrest by ramming their vessel into a departmental vessel, causing damage to both.

Despite the chaos, two people were arrested and handed over to Table Bay police, he said.

Nqayi said the rubber-duck used in the incident was recovered with assistance from South African National Parks (SANParks) and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

The second incident occurred on Thursday, when officials were alerted to another attempt involving two rubber-ducks.

A joint operation by the DFFE and SANParks led to the successful interception and arrest of seven people in the early hours of Friday, Nqyai said.

No serious injuries were sustained by officials during either operation.

DFFE Minister Willie Aucamp commended the swift action taken by enforcement officials and issued a stern warning to poaching syndicates.

“The senseless and untethered poaching and plundering of our natural resources will come to an end, whether they like it or not. We will continue to fight until we win the fight against poaching,” he said.

Aucamp further highlighted the importance of collaboration in these enforcement efforts, noting that his department had recently established a joint task team to coordinate enforcement efforts among different stakeholders.

This task team aims to intensify the fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources.

“The department continues to collaborate with relevant authorities to strengthen enforcement operations and ensure the protection and sustainability of South Africa’s marine biodiversity,” Aucamp said.