Fynbos fish revival
Welcome to the FYNBOS FISH REVIVAL – an innovative and collaborative effort to conserve the Cape’s most threatened freshwater fishes and rivers
“Freshwater fish are South Africa’s most threatened species group and urgent conservation action is required to prevent looming species extinctions” – Jeremy Shelton
PURPOSE
In South Africa, freshwater ecosystems are more threatened than marine or terrestrial systems, and freshwater fishes are the country’s most threatened species group. Urgent conservation action is required to save threatened fish species through restoring critical fish habitats. The Western Cape Province (world-renowned for its incredible diversity of terrestrial plants collectively called the “Fynbos”) is a priority area for freshwater fish conservation action, because it has a higher number of unique and threatened freshwater fish species than anywhere else in South Africa.
Vision
Improved conservation status of the Cape’s most threatened freshwater fish and their habitats.
Mission
Identify and undertake priority interventions to restore critical freshwater fish habitats and save threatened species from extinction.
Approach
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.
“We work with local communities to save threatened species and restore critical river habitats” – Jeremy Shelton
PARTNERS
The Fynbos Fish Revival is a collaborative conservation effort between local government and non-government organisations, including Freshwater Research Centre, Northern Cape Nature Conservation, CapeNature, Fynbos Fish Trust Youth4Conservation and Fishwater Films.
PROJECTS
There are currently five FFR conservation projects underway, each linked to a threatened species of Cape freshwater fish:
PEOPLE
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 or by sharing freshwater fish observations via iNaturalist.
Project coordinators
Jeremy Shelton and Bruce Paxton
