Dear friends, whole-hearted regards from the Czech republic:
Chinese are removing thousands of shells from the Dyje river:
Hundreds even thousands of shells, including those of protected species,
have been found in the posession of Chinese who were removing them from the
Dyje river. Among the 1,500 to 2,000 specimens contained in their bags, the
majority was of Viviparus acerosus acerosus, however, there was also a great
number of protected species, incl. Pseudanodonta complanata (+-150!),
Sinanodonta woodiana...
The collectors tried to convince the police and inspectors that they did not
remove the shells for culinary reasons but because they appreciated their
beauty in the aquarium.  When asked why they needed thousands of shells for
their aquarium, they were unable to find an answer. I told them if somebody
would kill a Panda he would receive the death sentence, but they think that
here they can do as they please.
In the meantime they will receive a fine of CZK 4,200.00 but if caught again
prosecution will follow. Raiding activities by Chinese people in other parts
of Czech waterways have been observed on several occasions.
Lubosh
  South Africa
  In January 2004, the Environmental Affairs and Tourism Department of South
Africa seized 16968 abalones Haliotis midae in four separate incidents and
apprehended 41 people in its efforts to halt the illegal fishing of abalone.
The offences took place in the Eastern Cape Province.

  More than 95% of the abalone destined for countries overseas, especially
China, is reported to be harvested illegally; such depletion is having a
catastrophic effect on abalone populations in the country. The species is
endemic to South Africa.

  Horst Kleinschmidt, the Department's Deputy Director General of Marine and
Coastal Management , said that the Department had significantly stepped up
its compliance, monitoring and surveillance activities pertaining to
abalone, in particular, and was at an advanced stage of developing a
strategic plan for the management of the abalone resource in Eastern Cape.

  Henk K. Mienis

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