Whiff of trouble as 3 000 crayfish tails found in Bishop Lavis fridges

More than 3,000 West Coast Rock Lobster tails were confiscated in Bishop Lavis on Monday as authorities conducted two separate enforcement operations in Cape Town.

In the same breath , authorities arrested 10 fishermen for catching Crayfish in the closed Marine Protected Area of  Brightwaters and Olifantsbos in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

According to City Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason, members of the City’s Marine and Environmental Unit were patrolling the area at about 2pm on February 24 when they stopped a man who appeared uneasy as he approached a property.

Dyason said officers asked whether the man resided at the premises and were granted permission to enter. Once inside, officers noticed a strong fish odour. A further inspection allegedly led to the discovery of fridges in a room containing blue bags filled with West Coast Rock Lobster tails.

A 35-year-old man was arrested and taken to Bishop Lavis SAPS. He has been charged with the illegal possession of 3,162 West Coast Rock Lobster tails. The matter remains under investigation.

Earlier the same morning, the Marine and Environmental Unit participated in a separate joint operation spearheaded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), assisted by SANParks.

During that operation, DFFE officials confiscated four vessels and arrested 10 fishermen for allegedly catching crayfish within a closed Marine Protected Area at Brightwaters and Olifantsbos in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

The arrests come during the 2025/26 West Coast Rock Lobster season, which is regulated under the Marine Living Resources Act.

The commercial fishing season runs from 15 November 2025 to 15 March 2026, limited to four months in line with stock management measures.

In December, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp announced designated recreational fishing dates for the 2025/26 season, restricting harvesting to 12 specific days between December and March.

Fishing outside gazetted dates, exceeding bag limits, or operating without a valid permit constitutes an offence.

The Department previously announced a 58.4% increase in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2025/26 season — from 505 metric tonnes to 800 tonnes — following scientific assessments indicating signs of resource recovery. Authorities have, however, emphasised that compliance and enforcement remain critical to protecting the species.

Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith has said illegal harvesting of marine resources remains an ongoing concern.

“Pilfering of our marine resources is an ongoing problem and often it is linked to other illicit dealings. Our Marine Unit staff work closely with other agencies to police our coastline and the waters around Cape Town,” Smith said.

Authorities have urged members of the public not to purchase illegally harvested marine products and to report suspected offences.

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Cape Argus