Dear YWG supporter,
Herewith the latest news:
Saving the Sandfish Project.
The eagerly-awaited Episode 4, which was filmed very recently records the first spawning migration of the year in the Biedouw River and may be viewed at https://youtu.be/SsvVEnKP6T0
To get a good grasp of the progress made with the project so far and plans for the future all this is recorded in the latest newsletter which you can read by by clicking here.
As noted in the newsletter this very ambitious project will also be featured in a forthcoming issue of National Geographic.
Fynbos Fish Trust
Also focused on the Western Cape and the adjoining fynbos area is this new organization. We recommend you check on it by clicking here. The main aim of the trust is to conserve the native freshwater fishes of the Cape Fold Ecoregion, many of which are endemic to the fynbos area and a good number of which are on the verge of extinction. We also suggest you click on the “Donate” button to give them some financial support.
African Swimways.
You are invited to join the next Swimway Afrca webinar on 5 November which includes presentations from specialists across Africa. There will be live interviews and a special workshop that is intended to provide a platform to share knowledge and learn from each other. For more information on the webinar click here..
The Vanderkloof Dam research project.
Professor Warwick Sauer of Rhodes University states that the Advisory Group have now considered 3 different economic models. The results were deliberated at a recent meeting of the Advisory Group where the final report on the experimental fishery was tabled. The fishers are in favour of the second model which includes 3 small vessels like those used on the West coast by small scale fishers and allowing for ongoing development of the local market. The Northern Cape Government will now use the final report in consultation with stakeholders to map the way ahead. One option is the formation of a Cooperative, with support from Government, allowing a sound business framework to be put in place. It is hoped that the Advisory Group will continue to be involved allowing a holistic approach. It is also recognized that there is already a significant investment in recreational fishing which in turn represents job creation in an area plagued by high unemployment, and it would be useful to see avenues of future revenue from this sector explored in conjunction with the small scale fishery.
Lastly, we have some feedback on the highly controversial programme of 2020 by Carte Blanche in which serious and damaging allegations were made about the role of Rhodes University in this project. A very comprehensive investigation carried out by Rhodes University, using three external experts to review the project, found no substance whatsoever to any of the claims made on the program, and in fact praised the University on their ongoing research on freshwater fisheries.
Kind regards,
Peter
