Poaching shellfish off an island known for human suffering

The waters surrounding Robben Island off the coast of South Africa is rich in abalone. The island is best known for its prison, which was used to house political since the 17th century, but with Nelson Mandela perhaps being its best-known inmate for 18 of his 27 years of captivity in the late 20th century. While the island is closed to tourists at night, poachers arrive in boats with their lights off for the illegal harvest.

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Flocking to Robben Island: Tourists by Day, Poachers by Night

By Norimitsu Onishi

The New York Times

August 15, 2016