Bust in Tsitsikamma as rangers raid hidden abalone spot, two arrested

Bags of confiscated abalone. Picture: Supplied/SANParks Two suspects were arrested in the Eastern Cape’s Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area on Monday afternoon for possession of abalone without a permit. South African National Parks (SANParks) rangers intercepted the individuals during a routine patrol in the vicinity of the western side of the Bloukrans Rive.

Rangers reported finding several bags concealed underneath trees containing fresh abalone. While rangers set up an observation post in the vicinity of the hidden bags, a group of 13 suspects returned to the site to retrieve the abalone. “Rangers moved in and successfully apprehended two individuals, while 11 others fled the scene,” said SANParks spokesperson, JP Louw on Tuesday in a statement.

Rangers continued to patrol the area on foot, with drones assisting with the discovery of additional bags of abalone and diving equipment. Rangers confiscated a total of 1000 units of abalone. They weighed 144.3kg, with most of it belonging to 993 units of shucked (out-of-shell) abalone.

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The rest belonged to seven units of in-shell abalone. A report by Traffic on the state of abalone poaching in South Africa in 2025 revealed that poaching and trafficking have driven wild populations towards collapse. This has fuelled organised crime and deepening poverty in coastal communities, it said.

Oliver Wright, author of the report, said that in 2024 alone, 4 000 tons of abalone was poached. “Approximately 67% of total imports of abalone from South Africa since the year 2000 are estimated to have originated from illegal harvest,” the report stated.

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