Five suspects who are believed to have picked up lobster that washed up at Elands Bay during red tide conditions, briefly appeared in the Laaiplek Magistrate’s Court. (Photo: Provided)
Five suspects who are believed to have picked up lobster that washed up at Elands Bay on the West Coast during red tide conditions, briefly appeared in the Laaiplek Magistrate’s Court.
The suspects, between 20 and 83 years old, stand trial on charges of possessing lobster without a legal permit. This after the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment also warned last week that the washed up lobster and fish are not safe for human consumption.
Large quantities of white clams, whelks and other shellfish were also found at St. Helena Bay and Elands Bay washed up on the West Coast.
According to Capt. FC van Wyk, police spokesperson, the police of the West Coast District carried out operations at 02:15 on Thursday when two vehicles drove past them at high speed while the police were standing by a bridge in Elandsbaai Road.
Officers pursued the vehicles and one veered off the road. Due to dense fog, the police officers were also unable to chase the second vehicle and backup from nearby police stations was called.
“A Nissan vehicle was later found along the road in the direction of Laaiplek. The vehicle had one occupant, an 83-year-old man. He was immediately questioned and told the officers that his passengers had run away,” says Van Wyk.
The vehicle was searched and a police identity card, 418 lobsters, one lobster tail and an octopus with an estimated street value of almost R210 000 were seized.
The other four suspects were tracked down with the help of a private drone and arrested by the police. They appeared in court on Friday.
“The vehicle and the suspects’ mobile phones were confiscated and handed in as evidence and for further processing,” says Van Wyk.
Many residents believe that the lobster that washed up is still edible and that the state is preventing ordinary people from collecting fish and lobster so that they can “make money and put food on the table”. (Photo: Provided/ Leoné Venter)
Meanwhile, residents of the West Coast and visitors from far and wide carry away buckets full of lobster illegally at night, although the government has introduced a contingency plan to remove the washed-up lobster and try to rehabilitate those that survive.
Many residents believe that the lobster that washed up is still edible and that the state is preventing ordinary people from collecting fish and lobster so that they can “make money and put food on the table”.
(Photo: Provided/ Leoné Venter)
On social media, some residents of Elands Bay also maintain that they have been eating seafood washed up during red tide for years and that they have never felt bad about it.
However, the department has repeatedly warned the public that washed up lobster and fish are not safe for human consumption.
“Exposure to algal toxins and bacterial contamination poses a serious health risk. Consumption can lead to serious illness or death. The public is requested not to collect, sell or eat sea creatures that wash up.”
The department appealed to the police and other authorities to help monitor the situation and ensure order.
By Monday, the department was still hard at work burying nearly 37 tons of dead crayfish. (Photo: Provided/ Leoné Venter)
Leoné Venter, a DA councilor from the West Coast district municipality, confirmed on Monday when asked that nearly four tonnes of lobster had already been returned to the sea.
By Monday, the department was still hard at work burying nearly 37 tons of dead crayfish.
According to Venter, no further washouts were noted.
(Photo: Provided/ Leoné Venter)
