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Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
Africa's freshwater fish crisis: 26% of species threatened with extinction
Clanwilliam sand fish: Supplied: Jeremy Shelton From the tiny They are found in sediment-rich rivers, shallow ponds, the great lakes, caves, canyons, mountain streams and forests. Yet they are This is according to a The report reveals that 26% of Africa's assessed freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction, but there are large data gaps so the true number is likely to be much higher. Africa is a global hotspot of freshwater fish diversity, home to more than 3 200 species — more than a quarter of the world's total freshwater fish. It's also a 'hotspot of risk', said Eric Oyare, the freshwater lead for WWF Africa. 'When these fish disappear, we lose much more than species: we lose food security, livelihoods, ecosystem balance, and resilience to floods and droughts. These declines are a red flag for the broader health of Africa's freshwater ecosystems, which are the very life support systems for people and nature.' But these lifelines are collapsing under the weight of multiple threats. These include habitat Freshwater fish populations are in freefall across the continent. In the Zambezi floodplain, When people think of the continent's biodiversity, few consider Africa's astonishing diversity of freshwater fish, 'yet they have swum through the continent's communities and cultures for millennia, and are still critical to the daily lives of tens of millions of people — as well as to the overall health of their freshwater ecosystems', said the report. Africa's rivers, lakes and wetlands are home to at least 3 281 freshwater fish species — a figure that includes Madagascar and 'that is almost certainly a significant underestimate'. This is because so many species have not yet been described by science and new species are being discovered in Africa every year — 28 during last year alone. These fish are vital for people and nature, supporting ecosystem functionality and the provision of ecosystem services across the continent, enhancing food security and nutrition for millions. They support countless livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable communities and landlocked countries. More than three million tonnes of freshwater fish are caught each year on the continent, representing nearly 30% of the reported global freshwater fish catch. This figure, too, 'is 'definitely a major underestimate', the report said, again because of a lack of data, especially for small-scale fisheries. The continent boasts 12 of the top 25 inland fish producing countries in the world, with Uganda coming in highest in sixth place. The annual catch feeds the highest per capita consumption of freshwater fish of any continent in the world and employs more than three million people. It plays a central role in the cultures of many indigenous peoples. And some fishes are economically important either as the lure for recreational anglers or as dazzling aquarium fishes. Weird and wonderful The continent's freshwater fish are much more than just food or economic resources. The report cited how possibly the most famous of Africa's freshwater fishes are the incredibly diverse cichlids, with at least 1 600 endemic species found in the Great Lakes – Victoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi. 'These cichlids are one of the most spectacular examples of speciation in the world and provide scientists with a unique opportunity to better understand the drivers of species evolution.' Livingstone's cichlid or kalingono from Lake Malawi has developed a unique hunting style; it plays dead to attract other fish to eat it, then it turns the tables by 'coming alive' and eating the would-be predator. There are 'so many other weird and wonderful species to discover', the report said, like Africa's elephant fishes, which use electrical pulses to communicate with others about sex, size, predators and prey. The cuckoo catfish gorges itself on the eggs of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika. 'Like its famous avian namesake, this fish tries to palm off parental care on an unsuspecting species. The cuckoo catfish does this by creating chaos at spawning time and confusing unsuspecting female cichlids into scooping up its spawn, which the cichlids subsequently brood in their mouths.' The African tigerfish can leap from the water to catch barn swallows in flight while the African lungfish breathes air and can survive years buried in mud during droughts. The ancient bichirs are often referred to as 'living fossils' for their lineage that predates the dinosaurs. Under-reported, undervalued and under pressure But despite their dazzling diversity and critical importance, the continent's freshwater fishes have remained 'largely invisible' to decision-makers with the benefits they contribute 'hidden and ignored' — and are now facing increasing threats to their survival. Globally, freshwater species populations are in freefall – crashing 85% since 1970. Nearly a quarter of the world's freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction. Africa's freshwater fishes are no exception. The report noted that of the 3 281 freshwater fish species, 712 are classified as threatened — with 170 listed as critically endangered, 243 listed as endangered and 299 listed as vulnerable. But the true number is higher because 536 of the continent's assessed freshwater fish are classified as data deficient, 'which means they are so poorly known that their threat status can't be assessed'. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies nine freshwater fishes as extinct — three from Morocco, two from Madagascar and one each from Kenya and Tanzania, Rwanda, Tunisia and Lake Malawi. 'However, the true number is likely to be significantly greater. For example, many species have almost certainly been lost in Lake Victoria alone.' The report said: 'When we tip the scales by drastically reducing freshwater fish populations, we undermine the functioning of freshwater ecosystems — our very life support systems. The decline in freshwater fish populations is the clearest indicator of the damage we have done — and are still doing — to Africa's rivers, lakes and wetlands. 'And that collapse of aquatic ecosystems across Africa only exacerbates the continent's freshwater fish crisis. Freshwater fishes need healthy freshwater ecosystems. And so do we. But we're losing them both far too fast.' Spawning protection The report said that very rarely are the full economic and social values of freshwater fishes and fisheries factored into decisions about hydropower dams, the draining of wetlands and dredging for navigation or sand mining, for example. 'However, there are indications that some decision-makers are finally starting to take the fate of freshwater ecosystems and fishes into account – and that the momentum for action is building.' African countries signed up to the The report said this ambitious agreement paves the way for a new approach to safeguard freshwater biodiversity, highlighted in the country-led Championed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Zambia, 20 countries on the continent have already joined the challenge — the largest freshwater protection and restoration initiative in history. Meanwhile, 51 countries are members of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. WWF is urging African countries to adopt the The plan outlines six urgent actions including letting rivers flow more naturally; improving water quality in freshwater ecosystems; protecting and restoring critical habitats and species; ending unsustainable resource use; preventing and controlling invasive non-native species; safeguarding free-flowing rivers and removing obsolete barriers.
TimesLIVE
08-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
Body of missing Mfazazana fisherman recovered after suspected shark attack
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has confirmed the body of a 37-year-old fisherman who went missing in a suspected shark attack off Mfazazana near Hibberdene on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast has been recovered. 'On Sunday during ongoing search and recovery operations, police K9 search and rescue and water policing and diving services (WPDS) located and recovered the body of a man believed to be that of a man who went missing in the sea on Friday afternoon in an apparent shark incident,' said the NSRI. While the body showed 'obvious shark wounds that are being investigated' formal identification processes are under way. The man was reported missing on Friday after a dramatic incident in the ocean involving three fishermen. The group had been in the water near a school of sardines when a shark reportedly surfaced where the missing man was fishing. According to the NSRI, one of the friends tried to intervene but was forced to retreat when confronted by at least two sharks. 'It is believed the sharks were feeding on the school of sardines,' the NSRI said. This prompted police and diving teams from WPDS with K9 search and rescue units to launch a search on Friday but were unable to locate the man. The search resumed on Saturday, with assistance from the NSRI Shelly Beach crew and culminated in the recovery of the body on Sunday. An inquest docket has been opened by police. Shark Spotters, a marine safety and conservation group, said the incident highlights the real but rare danger posed by sharks in South African waters. 'Since records started for South Africa in 1905, there have been a total of 248 unprovoked attacks. Of these, most have occurred in the Eastern Cape with 103 cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 90 cases and the Western Cape with 55 cases,' the organisation said. They noted three species, the great white, bull (Zambezi) and tiger sharks, are responsible for most shark attacks in South African waters. '2015 saw the highest number of unprovoked shark attacks recorded in a year, with 98 attacks and six deaths. Though shark attacks occur throughout the world, the US, Australia and South Africa remain the main hotspots,' said Shark Spotters.
Travel Weekly
26-05-2025
- Travel Weekly
Natural Selection sets date for a Namibia safari camp debut
Natural Selection is developing Nkasa Linyanti, a six-room safari camp set to open in May 2026 in Namibia's Zambezi region, situated within a critical wildlife migration corridor. The property will occupy a private concession on Nkasa Island within Nkasa Rupara National Park, a conservation hot spot central to the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. As the only accommodation on the island, the camp will operate in a region known for supporting significant elephant migration routes and hosting Namibia's largest concentration of buffalo. For the bird-lovers Guest activities will include game drives, night drives, guided walks, mokoro safaris and boating excursions through the wetland ecosystem. The region's status as Namibia's premier birding destination, with more than 430 recorded species, makes it a particular draw for bird enthusiasts. Cultural interactions with local communities will also be offered. The contemporary under-canvas camp will feature six tented suites raised on wooden stilts above the floodplains, connected by pathways to a central lounge and dining area. Each tent will feature canvas walls that open to panoramic views across the wetlands, with both indoor and outdoor showers in the en-suite bathrooms. A vital role in conservation Jennifer Lalley, co-founder and chief impact officer at Natural Selection, said: "This park provides a crucial corridor for regional elephant movement and supports breeding herds of buffalo, the full carnivore guild and an incredible diversity of species within its savannah, riverine and wetland habitats. Its position in the very center of an important transboundary conservation area means that it's protection, or lack of protection, has cascading effects on all surrounding areas. It is for this reason that we are investing here and devoting a significant portion of our conservation funds to support the park's warden and rangers." • Cover story: A safari for every budget Seasonal flooding from Angola creates ecological conditions similar to Botswana's Okavango Delta, transforming the landscape into a network of reed-fringed channels and lagoons. The unfenced nature of the park enables wildlife to move freely across national boundaries. The camp's facilities will include a fire pit, swimming pool and bar area. Solar-powered with water treatment systems, Natural Selection said the camp's operation reflects the company's sustainability commitments. Access options include FlyNamibia connections from Windhoek to Katima Mulilo with light-aircraft transfers; road transfers from Katima Mulilo, Kasane and Victoria Falls; and self-driving to the park entrance followed by a game drive transfer to camp.
