Exhausted and close to hypothermic a suspected abalone poacher is coaxed out of the water by a member of the South African Police Service. Poaching gangs prey on illegal migrants with limited employment opportunities. With minimal training or water skills they are left in water all night getting paid for the amount of Abalone they harvest. Illegal abalone poaching off the coast of South Africa threatens both marine ecosystems, individual well being and local communities. The demand for this delicacy fuels a dangerous black market, putting immense pressure on endangered species and the fragile ocean environment. The vast bulk of the poached Abalone is sold in markets in Hong Kong and China.