Fynbos fish revival
Restoring rivers | Connecting communities | Saving Species
Freshwater fish are the most threatened species group in South Africa and the Western Cape Province (also known as the Fynbos Region) is at the epicenter of South Africa’s freshwater fish emergency, with a higher proportion of threatened endemic freshwater fish than anywhere else in the country, and perhaps the continent.
10 of the region’s 24 endemic freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction
Threats include anthropogenic impacts on water quality and water quantity, climate change and invasive species, but predation non-native fish is recognized as the top threat to the regions’ endemic freshwater fishes. Urgent conservation action is needed to restore priority aquatic ecosystems and safe guard threatened species from extinction.
MISSION
Develop and action recovery plans for the 10 threatened Fynbos Fish species by 2035
APPROACH
We work collaboratively with land owners, communities, conservationists, scientists and the public to restore critical freshwater habitats and undertake urgent conservation interventions to safeguard the region’s most threatened freshwater fishes from extinction before its too late. Our goal is to improve the conservation status of the Cape’s 10 threatened freshwater fish species by 2035.
PROJECTS
There are currently five active FFR conservation projects underway working to recover threatened species of Fynbos Fish.
Fynbos Fish Revival projects underway in the Cape Fold Ecoregion. (Fish images used with permission from SAIAB)
IMPACT
5
Threatened fish conservation projects underway
4
Local community members upskilled and employed
17
Kilometres or critical fish habitat being restored
SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION
Shelton J, Weyl O, Van Der Walt J, Marr S, Impson D, Maciejewski K, Tye D, Dallas H, Esler K (2017) Effect of an intensive mechanical removal effort on a population of non-native rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in a South African headwater stream. Aquatic Conservation, Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 27(5): 1051–1055. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2752
COMMUNITY CONSERVATION
IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING
Work closely with Fishwater Films to tell impactful visual stories about local freshwater biodiversity and conservation efforts.
OUTREACH
We work with Youth 4 Conservation to create immersive, hands on conservation experiences for young South Africans.
CALL TO ACTION
Support the Fynbos Fish Revival by making a donation to our on-the-ground conservation work, by sharing our films and stories with your community or by adding freshwater fish observations via iNaturalist.
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS