NCYWG
About Us
As members we pride ourselves on our independence, as the complaints regarding water quality (for human as well as other use) that we deal with can thus be assessed with total impartiality. We do not hesitate to take on any department - government or otherwise - when it comes to highlighting issues involving the pollution of our waterways.
In 2003 the NCYWG managed to halt a huge mining setup at Schmidtsdrift after discovering some severe irregularities in the mining company's setup, although the damage had already been done. The mining company had built a slimes dam too close to the river and the retaining wall broke, resulting in tons of "washed" mud ending up in the river. This resulted in about 1km of river being rendered totally sterile with a 1m deep layer of dead mud on the bottom.
Official over-the-table protests from the NCYWG and the Department of Mineral and Energy affairs forced them to launch an official investigation. The NCYWG demanded the mine be shut down until remedial action was taken. They obliged and the group's reputation was born. Government and the miners realised that we were serious.
Our present concerns are the numerous inadequate, often dilapidated sewer systems we encounter in the Northern Cape and Northwest Province. We are particularly concerned with the aspect of human health, as the quality of water in the once majestic Vaal is slowly but steadily being degraded - almost to the point of being a glorified sewer. The working group is currently also involved in telemetry studies along certain sections of the Vaal as well as the Riet river to enable the gathering of data on large- and smallmouth yellows. These studies have led to the realisation that severe degradation of the Vaal from a health as well as an ecological point of view, requires immediate remedial action.
Only four of the original founding members are still part of the group, but membership now stands at over 30 throughout the Northern Cape, Freestate and Northwest provinces. All the members of the NCYWG are also members of the Three Provinces Fly Fishing Club with a membership from all over the country and as far a field as Australia, USA, England and Russia.
Due to ongoing research this website is constantly "under construction" and information contained herein is therefore not always 100% complete. We strive to provide the visitor with the most up to date and accurate information as it becomes available so please check back often to support this worthy cause.
Background
The predominantly arid Northern Cape and Northwest provinces are home to two of South Africa's seven true yellowfish species: Labeobarbus kimberleyensis (Vaal-Orange largemouth yellowfish)
and Labeobarbus aeneus (Vaal-Orange smallmouth yellowfish), confined to the Orange, Vaal, Harts and Riet rivers.
Despite their immense biodiversity, sport fishing and tourism value, the Northern Cape and Northwest provinces' yellows are increasingly under threat from anthropogenic impacts. Already, L. kimberleyensis is threatened with extinction and is recognized as amongst South Africa's most threatened freshwater fish species appearing on the IUCN red list for endangered species. Due to ongoing conservation efforts of various concerned groups the IUCN status of "vulnerable" has recently been changed to "near threatened".
Because of a fast growing sport and tourism industry and increased agricultural and mining development, it is likely that yellowfish will be subject to increased pressure in future.
An awareness of the value of our yellowfish and the potential environmental problems, such as destruction of riparian vegetation and in stream habitat, physical barriers, water abstraction, pollution and enrichment of water resources, introduction of alien fish species, illegal gillnet and long line operations, will do much to change the fortune of these fish.
The NCYWG has been initiated to focus attention on the plight of these yellowfish species and implement remedial measures to ensure continued existence of our yellowfish and its habitat.
Objectives
- To promote the conservation of the Northern Cape and Northwest's yellowfish assemblage and its habitat
- To participate in research and monitoring programs
- To create awareness of our yellowfish amongst all water users
- To address the needs, aspirations and problems of yellowfish anglers
- To interact with land owners in the conservation of yellowfish as a species
- To act in a consulting capacity in the planning of tourism activities
- To influence policy and decision making at all levels
Mission
To promote the conservation and sustainable use
and management of yellowfish and its habitat
in the Northern Cape and Northwest provinces
We
are in a process of tagging both Largemouth (L.
kimberleyensis) and Smallmouth (L.
aeneus) yellowfish in the three established conservancies
and some other private waters in the area.
