Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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Media Release: Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

11 April 2018 ( added by a mod)

The Park will broadcast the activities of the day via live stream media; sharing footage with other African countries taking part in the celebrations. Visitors will have an opportunity to view displays and videos on migrating fish with their families; whilst also taking part in competitions, games as well as observe live demonstrations by scientists.

“As KNP, we are excited to be the headquarters of Africa’s event in line with the WFMD and to mark the day; an official launch involving all the role players (both local and international experts) for this event will take place. We would like to proudly showcase the Park’s unique elements such as how we have successfully removed 21 obsolete dams to improve connectivity and health of rivers, how our fish ways are designed and plans to further improve current connectivity in KNP; said SANParks Freshwater Ecologist, Robin Petersen.

The programme is as follows:

April 21, 2018

10:00 -12:30 Stand/ videos/ games/ family activities
12:30 – 13:00 The official launch
A new book titled “from sea to source 2.0” which will provide a practical guide to tackling the threat of dams and promoting the protection and restoration of fish migration will be launched
14:00 -16:00 Field excursion with the key stakeholders

As a prelude to the celebrations, there will be a pre-event aimed at the primary school learners coming from the communities bordering the Park to expose them to the fish research work conducted in the Park on Thursday, 19 April 2018.

“We will host a group of learners, taking them on a field excursion along the major rivers we have in the Park such as the Sabie. The idea is to create an environment for the learners to have one on one interaction with the experts on the relation between rivers, fish, ecology and the wildlife in their natural environment. Education is an incredibly important way to improve awareness of these future leaders as well as the general public; concluded Petersen.

Fish face a number of threats; and physical barriers such as dams and weirs are one of the challenges for these species. These structures also have a potential to disrupt the natural flow of rivers, which is critical for fish procreation. Free-flowing rivers help with water purification, food mitigation, and pollution control whilst protecting against storm surges and rising sea levels.

For visuals and more information on the KNP World Fish Migration Day event, visit the links below.

Background information and downloads

International WFMD press release (available a week before WFMD)
For a free digital version of the book ‘From Sea to Source 2.0’: www.fromseatosource.com
more information about the World Fish Migration Day (April 21, 2018): https://www.worldfishmigrationday.com
promo film WFMD with Jeremy Wade (host River Monsters):
promo film WFMD with Zeb Hogan (host Monster Fish):
more information about the World Fish Migration Foundation: www.worldfishmigrationfoundation.com



The 2016 WFMD celebrations in the KNP took place at Engelhardt Dam Fish way near Letaba Rest Camp, showcasing fish ladders to the tourists.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) - Kruger National Park, Communications & Marketing Department.

Media enquiries either:
William Mabasa
GM: Communications & Marketing, Kruger National Park
Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919
Email: william.mabasa@sanparks.org

Isaac Phaahla
Media Specialist - SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5315, cell 083 673 6974
Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org



https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/def ... p?id=57463


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Re: Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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Can anybody spot a date for the celebrations? :-?


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Re: Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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We would like to proudly showcase the Park’s unique elements such as how we have successfully removed 21 obsolete dams to improve connectivity and health of rivers, how our fish ways are designed and plans to further improve current connectivity in KNP



This is horrendous nonsense. "Connectivity" has never been mentioned as a reason for blowing up dams, rather politics and rare antelope. :evil:

The main "in-house' Greater-Kruger rivers (unpolluted and unextracted) still have dams, most without fish-ladders (fish ways), so according to that logic they should all be destroyed forthwith.


Mbyamiti (Mbyamiti Weir)
Nwaswitsontso (Shimangwaneni and Orpen dams)
Timbavati (Piet Grobler dam)
Tsendze (Pioneer dam)

Ironically, Kanniedood Dam near Shingwedzi had a fishway.

In fact floods have removed many of the dams.

I also don't know what an "obsolete" dam is? 0-


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Re: Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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Richprins wrote: Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:47 pm We would like to proudly showcase the Park’s unique elements such as how we have successfully removed 21 obsolete dams to improve connectivity and health of rivers, how our fish ways are designed and plans to further improve current connectivity in KNP

This is horrendous nonsense. "Connectivity" has never been mentioned as a reason for blowing up dams, rather politics and rare antelope. :evil:

The main "in-house' Greater-Kruger rivers (unpolluted and unextracted) still have dams, most without fish-ladders (fish ways), so according to that logic they should all be destroyed forthwith.

Mbyamiti (Mbyamiti Weir)
Nwaswitsontso (Shimangwaneni and Orpen dams)
Timbavati (Piet Grobler dam)
Tsendze (Pioneer dam)

Ironically, Kanniedood Dam near Shingwedzi had a fishway.

In fact floods have removed many of the dams.

I also don't know what an "obsolete" dam is? 0-
It's on the 21st of April.

A good excuse for blowing up the dams has fallen into the lap of Sanparks, for free ;-)

A strange place to host this thing :-? It is far from the sea and I think that a lot of the fish migration has to do with the sea. For sure salmons and eals and I am sure many others. But perhaps this is only for fresh water fish -O-


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Re: Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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I also don't know what an "obsolete" dam is? 0-
Damaged by the floods or fallen to pieces for lack of maintenance? O**

In the "Background" article it is clearly stated
FRESHWATER FISH IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Media Release is not written well at all. Reading all the links is the only way of getting to know what the release is talking about.


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Re: Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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World Fish Migration Day celebration in the Kruger Park
All things fish were celebrated during World Fish Migration Day (WFMD) during an event held on April 21 in the Kruger National Park.
1 day ago

Mariana Balt

SKUKUZA – It was the third time this one-day event to create worldwide awareness of the importance of freshwater fish and open rivers was commemorated. It is a global initiative with activities organised to reach people from all over the world.

Glenn Phillips, managing executive of the Kruger National Park (KNP) explained the latest actions regarding dams and rivers. He said they believe in adaptive management, as can be seen by the integrated land use as set out in the latest management plan. The latter is currently being submitted for approval.

“Fish are very dependent on what happens upstream. Farming and mining activities, the presence of cities and factors like sewerage spills are but a few things that have an influence on rivers before they reach the KNP,” he said. “We have to care for the biodiversity of rivers that flow through the park.”

He used an example of a few years ago when crocodiles and barbels were dying of heavy metal residues in the Olifants River due to mining and a new dam in Mozambique that pushed silt back into the river.

Fish must be able to migrate upstream to feeding and breeding grounds.

“Not managing rivers will eventually affect all of wildlife, therefore, we have to keep up a sustainable ecological system.”

He thanked the staff of SANParks Scientific Services and other organisations like the Inkomati Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) who help to create a better ecological flow of water through the park all the time.

The event was also attended by a team of ecologists from the World Fish Migration Foundation in the Netherlands. Kerry Brink of the foundation presented a copy of the first From Sea to Source Guide 2.0 to Phillips.

Earlier during the week, groups of schoolchildren as well as journalists from all over the country visited fish ladders in the Sabie River and learned more about river connectivity and its importance in nature.

Robin Peterson, freshwater ecologist of the SANParks Scientific Services, shared information on the features of the Sabie River. It is one of the five major ones flowing through the KNP and one of the most pristine in South Africa. It contains a good quantity and quality water and sports a healthy biodiversity.

About 46 species of fish inhabit the Sabie and it enjoys a very high conservation status.

The fish way at Lower Sabie is one of the most modern and effective and one of its kind in the country, but few people realise that. Most observe it as a normal dam wall, unknowing that almost every rock was cemented into place to create a natural ladder with even the necessary resting stations.

It is also to create better connectivity that barriers such as unnecessary dam walls are currently being removed in the KNP. Just prior to WFMD the Kanniedood Dam near Shingwedzi was demolished. Historically many of these dams were built to the benefit of tourism, but not necessarily for that of fish and animals.

https://lowvelder.co.za/431668/world-fi ... ation-day/


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Re: Kruger National Park hosts World Fish Migration Day on behalf of Africa

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Just prior to WFMD the Kanniedood Dam near Shingwedzi was demolished. Historically many of these dams were built to the benefit of tourism, but not necessarily for that of fish and animals.

0-


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