yellow fish conservation

[Elizevh]

Hi all
Hava a look at this site. http://www.windknot.co.za
Windknot is a flyfishing conservation group, with their sites on conserving yellow fish... have a look...

[Chris Shelton]

Thanks Elize. Nice looking website. Still a bit short on 'meat', but it will get there

[Scythe]

I know a few of the guys ... in particular the chap in charge of "Projects"

Jimmy "The Snowman" Frost ... aka ... James Frost.

Being that they're guys from Klerksdrop I was suprised to see so much content.

[Herman Jooste]

The Windknot Club guys are also working quite closely with the University of Jo'burg scientist who is carrying out the yellowfish study mentioned in another thread.

[Elizevh]

The conservation of our indiginous fish species is one heluva task and would without a doubt require aid/participation from the government, conservation and All working groups and concerned fishermen willing to vollunteer time and money. Most working groups start off beautifully, with lots of gumption and great ideas, and then run into a wall when it comes to finances, man-power and time.

For fish conservation to be effective, we'll have to approach the project from all angles. It doesn't help every joe-soap nets fish and breeds them, when the reality is that the rivers are to polluted, silted-up from erosion, the streams are blocked by dam-walls or causeways (No fish ladders), or the exotic predatory fish are to prolific in numbers in certain rivers to risk stocking the new fish. More research needs to be done with regards to the distribution of the species to prevent interbreeding, during the restocking process. etc.
And people need to be educated and awareness needs to be raised about the dwindling state of our indiginous fish, and and the factors causing it.

Below are some conservation recomendations, this an idea of what needs to be done to protect the species.
Below is a list of fish on the Red-data list and their status...
(Note the number of fish with a higher threat status than our yellowfish.)



• Identify all existing and possible limiting and threatening factors.
• Impact studies must be undertaken of alien species, agricultural, industrial, mining and urban activities.
• Study the reproductive biology, life history stratigies and habitat requirements of the threatened species or certaine populations. Their habitat and the distribution,
• Management strategies must be developed, e.g. integrated catchment management.
• Apply captive breeding programs for restocking natural populations.
• Develop and estavlish sanctuary streams and nature reserves to protect certain populations and their habitat.
• Translocate fish into existing nature reserves which fall withing this species’ natural distribution.
• Build silt traps in rivers.
• Build fish ladders at dams to ensure upstream migrations of fish.
• Inform riparian land owners and other authorities about the conservation of the species.
• Protective legislation is necessary.
• Estuaries and lagoons throughout the county should be conserved.


Pseudobarbus burgi - Berg river redfin minnow - Critically endangered.
Pseudobarbus quathlambae - Maloti Minnow - Critically endangered
Barbus erubescens - Twee River redfin - Critically endangered
Barbus trevelyani - Border barb - Critically endangered
Labeo seeberi - Clanwilliam sandfish - Critically endangered
Austroglanis barnardi - Spotted rock-catfish - Critically endangered
Clarias cavernicola - Cave catfish - Critically endangered
Chiloglanis bifurcus - Inkomati suckermouth - Critically endangered
Nothobranchius spp. - Caprivi killifish - Critically endangered
Tilapia guinasana - Otjikoto tilapia - Critically endangered
Psudobarbus burchelli - Breede river redfin - Endangered
Psudobarbus phlegethon - Fiery redfin - Endangered
Psunobarbus tenuis - Slender redfin - Endangered
Barbus calidus - Clanwilliam redfin - Endangered
Barbus serra - Clanwilliam sawfin - Endangered
Sandelia bainsii - Eastern cape rocky - Endangered
Opsaridium peringueyi - Southern barred minnow - Vulnerable
Psudobarbus asper - Smallscale redfin - Vulnerable
Barbus motebensis - Marico barb - Vulnerable
Barbus brevipinnis - Shortfin barb - Vulnerable
Barbus andrewi - Berg-breede river whitefish - Vulnerable
Labeobarbus capensis - Clanwilliam yellowfish - Vulnerable
Labeobarbus kimberleyensis - Orange-vaal largemouth yellowfish - Vulnerable
Austroglanis gilli - Clanwilliam rock-catfish - Vulnerable
Chetia brevis - Orange-fringed largemouth - Vulnerable
Psudobarbus afer - Eastern cape redfin - Near threatened
Barbus treurensis - Treur river barb - Near threatened
Barbus hospes - Namaqua barb - Near threatened
Chiloglanis swierstrai - Lowveld suckermouth - Near threatened
Galaxias zebratus - Cape galaxies - Near threatened
Serranochromis meridianus - Lowveld largemouth - Near threatened
Sandelia capensis - Cape kurper - Near threatened
Austroglanis sclateri - Rock-catfish - Least concern

[chris williams]

Good stuff! Very informative

(Shelton's turn to call me a fawning creep!)

[rols]

Nice one Elize
Just shows how many species are vulnerable. I wonder what our children's kids are going to be doing for recreation. Certainly not fishing by the looks of things

[Chris Shelton]

Thanks Elize, great post.

I have no doubt that we can all make a difference if we get involved. Here is the ideal opportunity to leave behind a awesome legacy for your grand children............I can hear it already....." You know, who would have believed that this common little fish was on the verge of extinction 20 years ago. If it were not for people like my grand pappy, who made a difference at the time, it would have been."