Arrest for importing seahorses

[caption id="attachment_39260" align="alignright" width="250"] THREATENED SPECIES: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries official Delricia Augustus examines some of the dried seahorses seized in Deal Party. Picture: MIKE HOLMES[/caption]

A SUMMERSTRAND businesswoman appeared briefly in the Motherwell Magistrate's Court yesterday in connection with illegally importing R160000 worth of protected seahorses from Hong Kong.

Amoi Shirley Law-Kun, 76, who owns Hasty-Tasty Frozen Foods in North End, was released on warning and instructed to appear in court again next month.

She was arrested on Tuesday after 132 dried seahorses were found during an inspection of a container at a Deal Party depot.

A marine biologist welcomed the arrest yesterday, saying seahorses worldwide were considered a protected species due to a growing demand on the Asian market.

Seahorses are commonly used as traditional Chinese medicine – normally in the form of soup. - Gareth Wilson