Brenden Wrote:Hi All,

As we are all aware conservation is not just about the fish we catch but the rest of the fishes that are in our dams and streams.

Todays meeting was with Cape Nature. With DWAF, funders ,various scientists and angling bodies in attendance.
There is great concern that soon there may be a few species totally removed from this planet due to habitat changes and other strains put on already fragile species of fish. I will endeavor to get a list of these fish for circulation. Some of the names, I am sure that most of us, have never heard about. This includes me.

Cape Nature are putting together a plan to save these species of fish and together with their team of scientists have compiled a priority list of rivers which need to be attend to rather urgently. They are:
1. Biedouw.
2. Jan Dissels.
3. Heks.
4. Breekkrans.
5. Twee.
6. Middeldeur.
7. Krom Antonies.
8. Krom.
9. Riviersonderend.
10. Kars.
11. Poort.
12. Tradou.
13. Huis.
14. There was a fourteenth mention but I did not write it down.
See the attached map for clarification.

These are all rivers that are suffering from various problems like excessive water draw off.
Alien fish like large and small mouth bass as well as yellow fish etc.
Alien plants and trees and even in some areas alien fund.

Although we do not fish these areas nor do we go near them it is important to adopt the broad picture and give our support to the preservation of the indigenous fish. Some of these rivers feed the dams that we fish on and therefore we are indirectly affected.
Assistance can be given for example, hiking areas targeted for eradication and assisting in the catching of bass for example. The so called manual method of eradication. Sometimes it is not possible to use pesticides. We will receive schedules etc from Cape Nature as well as a call for assistance.

The meeting largely agreed that that these rivers would receive the necessary attention which means that various impact assessments etc would still need to completed and various gabion's would need to be constructed etc.

Any questions drop me an email.

Regards,

Max.

PS there may well be some that I have left off the mail please distribute amounts the others.

riprap Wrote:I commend CPS on their transparency and honesty to failure admissions. By taking it one step further and inviting the public (incl. headbutt and the public), then we are really talking progress and in which some solutions offered may very well be what they never thought of.

I've always found that by involving outsiders in a brain storming, you very often get ideas that those deeply involved with blinkers on, haven't thought of! Some food for thought. Still, I sincerely hope that there are populations of endangered species being bred in controlled conditions to supplement the natural populations once they succeed in restoring systems?? :blue-rolleyes:

There is no disclaimer on my posts, I rather say it as I see it. :blue-smile:

riprap Wrote:Buzz - I meant CNC (Cape Nature) and thanks for pointing that out. :blue-smile:

I disagree about attendance by invite only. Have the terms of reference been strictly applied since this forum was formed?
The overlapping of policies and sectors in SA is such that I&AP's are basically forced to request representation if any meaningful input and participation is to be achieved from all relevant parties. This is what "consultative" is all about.

breedesmallie Wrote:Tradou is feeding Poortjies kloof dam, mostly dry with small pools during summer, no bass in there. Riviersonderend is running from Theewaterskloof to the Breede river near Kambatie. That is not a mountain stream but a river, how will they clean that, Riviersonderend are liiterd with barbel. Hexriver allso ending in the Breede. Hexriver got lots of smallies and trout.
I wish people will start to see that it's not the bass doing all the harm, in my town are two mountain streams running into the Breede, every year during spawn the barbel are going up these streams to spawn in their millions and I've never saw a bass in these streams. There used to be a lot of small indemic species in these streams but they totally dissapeared since barbel moved into them.
I am so gatvol hearing about bass must be removed but nothing is done to barbel, go and have a look at Kwaggas and Branvlei. Bass and witvis allways survived together but I can prommis you in the next two to three years there will only be barbel.

breedesmallie Wrote:Tradou is feeding Poortjies kloof dam, mostly dry with small pools during summer, no bass in there. Riviersonderend is running from Theewaterskloof to the Breede river near Kambatie. That is not a mountain stream but a river, how will they clean that, Riviersonderend are liiterd with barbel. Hexriver allso ending in the Breede. Hexriver got lots of smallies and trout.
I wish people will start to see that it's not the bass doing all the harm, in my town are two mountain streams running into the Breede, every year during spawn the barbel are going up these streams to spawn in their millions and I've never saw a bass in these streams. There used to be a lot of small indemic species in these streams but they totally dissapeared since barbel moved into them.
I am so gatvol hearing about bass must be removed but nothing is done to barbel, go and have a look at Kwaggas and Branvlei. Bass and witvis allways survived together but I can prommis you in the next two to three years there will only be barbel.

Valrath Wrote:The CN website is so outdated.

The amount of barbel and carp in the berg river is too damn high.

Even below the berg river dam there is lots of Huge Barbel.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone has already stocked barbel in the berg river dam.