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.

“Freshwater fish are South Africa’s most threatened species group and urgent conservation action is required to prevent looming species extinctions” – Jeremy Shelton 

MISSION

Develop and action recovery plans for the 10 threatened Fynbos Fish species by 2035

“We work with local communities to save threatened species and restore critical river habitats” – Jeremy Shelton

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

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION

We create employment opportunities and build local conservation capacity by upskilling local community members to monitor and restore critical fish habitats and save threatened species.

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

EFT Account Details

Account Name:               Freshwater Research Centre NPC 
Bank:                                 Nedbank Limited
Account No:                     102 680 5341    
Branch Code:                   104 309
Swift Code:                       NEDSZAJJ

Please use your Name and the project you would like to donate to as as reference e.g. Jane_Saving Sandfish. If you would also be so kind as to email us with your details once you have made the payment. Please also let us know if you would like to receive a Section 18a Certificate. You can send that email to info@frcsa.org.za.
 
We would like to thank you for your contribution, it means a lot to us!