Over 40 KZN arrests in illegal fishing syndicate
Authorities believe they've exposed an international syndicate that has allegedly been colluding with locals to fish illegally in KZN's waters.
The KZN Department of Agriculture's Khaye Nkwanyana says officials have arrested more than 40 local fishermen over the past three weeks.
Nkwanyana says they suspect they had allegedly been working with people from Eastern Europe.
In one of the arrests - a group of men were found in possession of over 500 crayfish - believed to have been illegally fished in Durban.
Nkwanyana says the group appeared in the Pinetown Magistrates Court last week.
"We know that they are working with syndicates. Those particles of crayfish were destined through their network - to be shipped to the Eastern parts of Europe. It's worrying that even in KZN - there's the growth of organised, illegal fishing," he said.
Nkwanyana says they've tightened security.
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"We have reinforced our officials in terms of the marine guard so that we self-guard the marine spaces from this particular exploitation," he said.