South Africa looks to ban sale of abalone

HONG KONG: Connoisseurs of fine food are coming to terms with the news that abalone from South Africa may soon be off the menu here.

The South African government has announced plans to make Haliotis midae a protected species under CITES Appendix III (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) with effect from May 3.

Haliotis midae, or perlemoen abalone, is the largest species of the luxury seafood in South Africa and can be found along two-thirds of its coastline. However, due to illegal harvesting its numbers are dwindling.