KROM ANTONIES RESTORATION PROJECT
Restoring the upper Krom Antonies to protect the Endangered Verlorenvlei Redfin
THE VERLORENVLEI REDFIN
THE KROM ANTONIES RIVER
The last stronghold for the Verlorenvlei Redfin is in the upper Krom Antonies River. However, this population has been invaded by an introduced invasive predatory largemouth bass and banded tilapia, which now pose a serious threat to the continued existence of Verlorenvlei Redfin in the Krom Antonies River. Largemouth Bass have eliminated other redfin species from many rivers throughout the Western Cape province where they have been introduced, and banded tilapia compete with the native species for food and habitat.
The Krom Antonies River is also invaded by several invasive plant species, including Black Wattle and Port Jackson, which cause a significant decrease in the amount of water flowing through the river, and cause excessive sedimentation in the river channel. This has negative consequences for freshwater species like the Verlorenvlei Redfin, for downstream water users, and for the health of the Verlorenvlei Estuary.
RESTORATION APPROACH
The FRC will work with local communities to strategically and sustainably remove invasive fish and plants to establish a threatened fish sanctuary in the upper Krom Antonies River:
- Local community members will by upskilled and employed to manually remove invasive fish and plants from the upper 5 km of the Krom Antonies River.
- An alien fish barrier weir will be constructed at the downstream end of the 5 km restoration zone to prevent future alien fish invasions and ensure the long-term viability of the fish sanctuary.
- Local land owners will be engaged, supported and management plans co-developed to ensure that follow-up clearing continues beyond the timeframe off this project.
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
