RIVERSDALE NEWS - CapeNature has urged recreational anglers to adopt catch-and-release practices as part of ongoing efforts to conserve the Western Cape’s unique freshwater fish species.
The province’s rivers and streams are home to 35 indigenous fish species, but 24 are currently listed as threatened.
Alarmingly, 73% of these species are found nowhere else in the world, making their protection a global conservation priority.
At the same time, 73 of 138 freshwater ecosystems in the province have been classified as critically endangered.
A major threat to local fish is the spread of invasive alien species, which prey on indigenous fish and compete with them for food, breeding grounds and habitat.
Subtle as these pressures may appear, they can have long-term impacts on the health of freshwater ecosystems.
“We want to empower communities, anglers and visitors to become environmental stewards for our indigenous fish species,” said CapeNature CEO Dr Ashley Naidoo.
“Practising responsible catch and release - or in the case of invasive species, catch and remove - helps to sustain biodiversity and ecological balance.”
Recent biodiversity surveys in the Boland Mountain Complex, which includes Jonkershoek, Hottentots-Holland, Hawequas and Theewaterskloof, revealed that more than half of the river sites surveyed were in “Good” or “Very Good” ecological condition.
However, invasive fish remain a challenge, particularly for species such as the endangered giant redfin (Pseudobarbus skeltoni), which was confirmed in two of its three known populations.
CapeNature advises anglers to use barbless hooks, minimise handling, and return fish gently to the water.
These small steps, combined with public awareness and science-based conservation, can help ensure the long-term survival of freshwater fish.
The progress of these efforts is tracked in CapeNature’s 2025 State of Conservation Report, which highlights both successes and challenges in protecting the province’s rich biodiversity.
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