A 50-year-old man was arrested yesterday following a tip-off that he was selling crayfish from a residence in Rusthof, Strand.

Following a joint operation conducted by the police’s Law Enforcement Marine and Environmental Unit, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), and Cape Nature, several protected marine species was seized.

The City’s Law Enforcement spokesperson, Wayne Dyason, says that upon inspection of the premises, several bags were found in a fridge, containing the items.

“When arriving at the location they conducted an inspection, and found bags in a fridge containing 40 West Coast Rock Lobster Tails, 15  West Coast Rock Lobster whole state, 21 Alikrikel, 3 Silver Fish, 26 whole Abalone, and one Shucked Abalone.”

Dyason says the suspect was transported to the Strand police station where he will be formally charged.

The City reiterates that the illegal possession or trade in abalone and crayfish remains a criminal offense.