The government is revising its controversial policy of selling confiscated abalone after SARS was asked to investigate. The Sunday Times reported that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was questioned over the sale of poached abalone worth millions of rand.The Western Cape parliament's standing committee on economic opportunities, tourism and agriculture asked SARS earlier this month to investigate how the money was used."The process of selling and storage of the confiscated abalone by the department, including options to outsource the function completely, is under revision," said agriculture and fisheries department spokesman Palesa Mokomele."The department is focused on the sustainable use of the marine living resources, including protection services."Our efforts remain centred on the prevention of poaching by improving efforts of protection of marine resources rather than confiscation of poached goods."Committee chairman Beverley Schäfer said the department was morally compromised because it was directly benefiting from the trade in illegal abalone."The fact that 30% to 50% of Marine and Coastal Management's budget is derived from the sale of confiscated abalone creates a perverse incentive," said Schäfer."This could lead to MCM having a direct interest in maintaining the illegal abalone poaching."The Times has established that abalone worth at least R63-million was given to the department by law enforcement agencies, including SARS and the Hawks, between April last year and March this year.The confiscated molluscs, highly sought-after in Asian countries, are auctioned by the department.Last month SARS senior manager Ashika Pillay told the standing committee that the illegal abalone trade had become a national security threat."It is no longer just an environmental crime, it has become a trans-national crime and it is affecting the interests of the state," said Pillay...