I FIND it so unfair that the NSRI and its crew have to place themselves in danger after dark, to rescue alleged "perlie poachers" ("Men rescued off coast", March 5).
The ducks arrive from and return to the bay or St Francis with only two or three on board to evade the authorities more easily and to make them look more like "recreational" divers or fishermen. Those of us who monitor the poachers' activities will confirm that there are two to five boats every day somewhere along the Wild Side, and dozens of "divers" are collected and dropped off at will, under the nose of the marine officer stationed at Sardinia Bay beach.
As I write now at 7.15am, there are two rubber ducks off "Platbank", within the "protected" Sylvic marine reserve.
I respect that the rescue crew are in no position to discriminate and their mandate must be to save lives regardless. The frustration is that these alleged poachers be allowed to ply their "trade" so freely and our authorities are either incapable or unwilling to do anything about them.
The fact that the NSRI does end up unwittingly rescuing alleged poachers, taints their fantastic reputation and puts off future donors.
When are the Sea Fisheries Department and the SAPS going to wake up and do something?
Name withheld, old Seaview road, Port Elizabeth
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