Understanding and protecting threatened Nuwejaars fynbos fish species
Project overview
The rivers and streams in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (SMA) are home to threatened indigenous fish that stand on the brink of extinction. Here you’ll find Endangered Heuningnes Red (Pseudobarbus sp. nov. ‘Heuningnes’) and Heuningnes Galaxias (Galaxias sp. nov. ‘Heuningnes’). However, very little is known about these species, including their distribution, population densities, and the threats they face. By collecting critical data, this project aims to answer these questions. It also hopes to this data to compile a conservation mitigation plan for the Nuwejaars region, to be implemented after the project has concluded. Another component of the project is a communications campaign focused on the custodians of these waterscapes – including landowners, land users and school children, to raise awareness of these species, and how they can be protected.
Threats
Climate change
Habitat loss & degradation
Invasive alien species
Pollution
Project objectives
To protect fynbos fish species of the Nuwejaars from extinction, through monitoring and conservation action. This project seeks to:
- Determine population densities and area of occupancy/distribution of Heuningnes Redfin and Heuningnes Galaxias.
- Identify threats to fynbos fish species.
- Feed all data fed to the relevant partners (SANBI, CapeNature & IUCN).
- Develop conservation mitigation plans.
- Implement site-specific conservation measures where appropriate and possible to protect these species.
- Create employment opportunities for unemployed individuals.
- Raise awareness with a wide array of stakeholders.
- Develop a replicable conservation model.
Project activities
- A project supervisor and two environmental monitors were appointed – and they are now collecting data on locations and densities of fynbos fish, and the threats they face, along 41km of the Nuwejaars River, wetlands and tributaries.
- Through several workshops and meetings, partnerships have been put in place with conservation authorities and other partners involved in fynbos fish protection – which sets the scene for data sharing to feed into fish protection policies.
- The data is analysed by the Fynbos Fish Trust, who will then compile a conservation mitigation plan across the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area.
- A communications campaign is being rolled out, with a focus on the custodians of the land – both landowners and land users, to raise awareness of these fynbos fish, the threats they face, and the importance of protecting them.
- Through an environmental education programme, local schools from Elim, Bredasdorp and Struisbaai/Agulhas visit the Nuwejaars Wetlands over the course of the year, to learn about the fynbos fish, and the important role they play in this ecosystem.
This project is implemented by Nuwejaars River Nature Reserve.
