Threatened Endemic Fishes in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region: A New Beginning for the Rondegat River

• Published in: Fisheries Vol. 39; no. 6; pp. 270 - 279
• Main Authors: Weyl, Olaf L. F, Finlayson, Brian, Impson, N. Dean, Woodford, Darragh J, Steinkjer, Jarle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda Taylor & Francis 01-06-2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Conservation areas; Endangered species; Endemic animals; Endemic species; Fauna; Fish; fish communities; Fish conservation; Fish populations; fisheries; Fisheries management; Fishing; Freshwater; Freshwater fishes; Headwaters; indigenous species; Interspecific relationships; Micropterus dolomieu; Nature conservation; Pisces; Piscicides; predation; Rare species; Removal; Rivers; Rotenone; Stock assessment; streams; South Africa
• ISSN: 1548-8446; 0363-2415; 1548-8446; 1548-8675
• DOI: 10.1080/03632415.2014.914924

Nonnative fishes threaten native fish communities in many rivers of the world. In South Africa's Cape Floristic Region, predation by nonnative fishes has severely impacted native fish populations and more than half of the 17 endemic fish species are endangered. To preserve the unique endemic fish fauna, removal of nonnative fish from conservation areas is a priority in this region. In February 2012, South Africa's first nonnative fish eradication using rotenone took place in the Rondegat River, a small headwater stream that had been invaded by Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu). The successful treatment culminated from a decade-long process that was facilitated through collaboration among a South African nature conservation authority (CapeNature), the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, and the American Fisheries Society Fish Management Chemicals Subcommittee. The successful removal of alien fish and almost instantaneous increase in biodiversity is anticipated to encourage more endemic fish restorations in South Africa.