1.0

Fish sanctuaries were identified in rivers and associated sub-quaternary catchments required to meet threatened and near threatened fish population targets. Fish sanctuaries in a good condition (A or B ecological category) were selected as FEPAs (freshwater ecosystem priority areas), and the remaining ones became Fish Support Areas. The aim in identifying these sanctuaries is to keep further freshwater species from becoming threatened and to prevent those fish species that are already threatened from becoming extinct. Sub-quaternary catchments identified as fish sanctuaries need fish management plans. In some cases the focus of these plans will be on a particular river reach or a particular management issue such as construction of weirs to keep invasive alien fish species to a minimum or interaction with angling communities.

Capture Source: CSIR

Fish sanctuaries for every threatened and near threatened species were combined and the number of threatened fish populations within each sub-quaternary catchment was calculated. The IUCN red list of threatened fish species ( http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/freshwater) was used as a starting point for identifying threatened fish species in South Africa. Included were those that are critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable and near threatened. Unique populations of those species classified according to IUCN criteria as data deficient, but deemed threatened by South African fish biologists who participated in the regional workshops, were also included. Certain species are in the process of taxonomic revision will be split into several species, (e.g. Galaxias zebratus) and these were considered as separate species. Fish biologists across the country assigned them a preliminary conservation status guided by IUCN criteria. A list of 66 threatened freshwater fish species for which sanctuaries were identified resulted. Fish sanctuaries were identified manually on a species-by-species basis at the scale of sub-quaternary catchments. The distribution of each threatened fish species was examined, using fish point locality data from SAIAB and the Albany Museum with data supplemented with expert knowledge from experienced fish biologists in different regions of the country. Historical records deemed no longer valid (owing to local extinctions) were excluded from consideration. Known ‘viable’ populations of fish were chosen as fish sanctuaries, defined as self-recruiting populations. Confirmed localities that were not in the original data, but that were known by regional fish biologists were considered. River condition was used to guide decisions where choices existed, but it was not used as a driving factor because in many cases options only exist for conserving these species in modified rivers.

• Fish population targets used to identify sanctuaries per species:

o Critically Endangered/Endangered: all confirmed existing populations

o Other threatened or near-threatened: at least 10 populations (or maximum confirmed existing populations), coinciding wherever possible with sub-catchments selected for Critically Endangered and Endangered species

• Three types of conservation areas were identified for each species:

o Fish Sanctuaries (areas required to meet fish population targets)

o Fish Migration Corridors (areas required for migration between required habitats, usually between mainstem and tributary habitat)

Upstream Management Areas (areas that need to be managed to prevent degradation of

downstream Fish Sanctuaries and/or Fish Migration Corridors)

• Fish sanctuary maps were combined for all species. For sub-quaternary catchments containing more than 1 species with conflicting fish sanctuary classes the maximum protection level was assigned, with highest levels of protection afforded to Fish Sanctuary, then Fish Corridors, and lastly Upstream Management Areas

Available documentation:

Nel, J.L., Murray, K.M., Maherry, A.M., Petersen, C.P., Roux, D.J., Driver, A., Hill, L., Van Deventer, H., Funke, N., Swartz, E.R., Smith-Adao, L.B., Mbona, N., Downsborough, L. and Nienaber, S. (2011). Technical Report for the National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas project. WRC Report No. K5/1801.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/freshwater

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998