bocma signs an mou with a namibian partner - Breede Overberg ...

THE BARRYDALE REDFIN:
A FISH ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION
The Breede River system is home to a unique indigenous fish, the Breede River
redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli). A study by the South African Institute for Aquatic
Biodiversity (SAIAB) has shown that the Breede River redfin is in fact three genetically
distinct fish, which are currently being described as new species.
The Critically Endangered Barrydale redfin. Photo © Ernst
swartz (saIab)
one of these species occurs in the breede river
(Burchell’s redfin), one in the Heuningnes river system
on the Agulhas Plain (Heuningnes redfin), and one in
the tradouw river system. this species is known as the
Barrydale redfin.
the barrydale redfin has a very limited natural
distribution, only the tradouw river and its major
tributary, the Huis river. this river runs through the town
of barrydale. a recent assessment by the International
Union for the conservation of nature (IUcn) shows that
the Barrydale redfin is Critically Endangered. This means
that it will soon become extinct if it is not conserved
immediately.
The survey shows that the Barrydale redfin’s distribution
has changed significantly in recent years and has
become much smaller.
this is due to a number of threats, which include:
• excessive and unregulated abstraction of water
from the river for domestic and agricultural use;
• modification of the stream habitat by unsound
agricultural practices such as bulldozing and
removing the riparian vegetation;
• pollution of the water resource by agricultural
chemicals and sewage effluent; and
• alien fish species in the river.
Alien fish threaten indigenous fish, such as redfins,
through predation (eating the indigenous fish) and
by competing with the indigenous fish for food. The
ecological threats in the tradouw river and its tributaries
are not unique and occur in many rivers in the cape
Floristic region (cFr).
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To protect the Barrydale redfin
and ensure its survival in the
wild, a conservation plan
was initiated by capenature.
this plan aligned is with
guidelines that are published
in the national environmental
management: biodiversity
act (nemba) (act no. 10 of
2004). The guidelines call
for an integrated approach
to species conservation
whereby stakeholders from
government departments,
municipalities and private
the tradouw Pass: the
main area of distribution
of the Barrydale redfin.
landowners are included through a public participation
process. the participation of all stakeholders in the
process means that maximum awareness is created and
knowledge is disseminated to non-conservation agencies.
this then aligns the priorities of all stakeholders from
the different sectors.
The conservation plan for the Barrydale redfin is in a
draft phase and anyone interested in further details can
contact Martine Jordaan at mjordaan@capenature.co.za.
the recent survey of the tradouw catchment shows
some interesting results which will be featured in the
bocma newsletter. so watch this space!
largemouth bass which is threatening the survival of the
Barrydale redfin