Cape Town — Barely three weeks after the diving ban regulations on abalone were Gazetted, authorities have arrested 17 suspected poachers during a night-long operation in Hout Bay and Robben Island.

The diving ban regulations were Gazetted on 1 February 2008.

Robben Island was one of four areas where a total ban on diving has been placed as part of measures for the protection of wild abalone and to promote the recovery and rebuilding of the resource.

In terms of the regulations for the protection of wild abalone, a penalty of up to R500 000 or a prison sentence of up to two years can be imposed for failure to comply with the regulations.

Thursday's arrest follows a collaborative enforcement between officials from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and the South African Police Services (SAPS).

The officials swooped down on alleged poachers in two separate incidents during the early hours of morning.

Fifteen suspects were brought to Cape Town harbour earlier in the morning after officials from DEAT and SAPS took up position on and around the Island throughout the night to ensure the arrest of all the suspects.

When the suspects realized their boat was taken over by law enforcement officials, they swam to the island where they attempted to hide.

As officers were positioned on land and at sea, the presence of a dispatched police helicopter to Robben Island added air positioning.

A super duck fishing vessel, 77 abalone and abalone shucking equipment were confiscated.

The second arrest took place almost at the same time when another super duck was confiscated at the Hout Bay harbour after law enforcement officials monitored two men entering the harbour with a super duck, presumably intending to poach.

The skipper was arrested in accordance Merchant Shipping Act.

The second suspect was arrested for an outstanding warrant of arrest linked to another abalone poaching case.

In 2006, the DEAT announced it has seized over R3 million worth of assets from marine poachers and made dozens of arrests in enforcement and compliance operations.

Resources, technical equipment and five vehicles confiscated valued at more than R3 million were seized and approximately 3 tons of abalone were confiscated during these raids.