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Our News
It’s World Fish Migration Day and this is why you should care
South Africa is host to abundant fish species that are the lifeblood of many and diet of even more. If we fail to protect migratory species, we could very well have to face a future without them.
World Fish Migration Day is a global initiative with local events worldwide to create awareness of the importance of open rivers and migratory fish.
The 21st of May marks the second of its kind and here’s why you should care about it:
Let’s take a look at South Africa’s dusky kob - a fish that migrates a few hundred kilometres from estuaries where they grow up to the ocean where they mate as adults.
Most abundant from Cape Agulhas to northern KwaZulu-Natal, the adults travel from the Eastern Cape and Western Cape to KwaZulu-Natal to reproduce in winter/spring.
They are remarkable creatures. Females can live up to 42 years and the maximum recorded weight was 80kg. That’s one big fish!
As juveniles they stick to near-shore environments like estuaries, making them an easy option for both small-scale and commercial fisheries. The effect can be devastating. Overfishing of juveniles means fewer adults are left to reproduce and maintain fish stocks. A lack of enforcement and compliance means fishing is largely unmonitored.
The kob must make the sometimes arduous journey to the ocean where they reproduce. Unfortunately, estuaries make prime real estate with their beautiful waters and pristine coastlines. They’re great attractions for keen anglers, bird watchers and boat owners. Of course, with houses along the water’s edge comes added pollution from litter, human sewage and building rubble.
Also, increased recreational fishing often means netting juveniles or gravid females (females with eggs).
Then there’s the increased risk of predatory fish that feed on juveniles, eggs and baby fish when the estuary mouth is forced to keep open, letting in sea water all year round.
A number of marine protected areas, including De hoop, Dwesa-Cebe and Pondoland, have had a positive impact in the protection of the species.
This is where World Fish Migration Day comes in. It advocates for policies, measures and management from local to global players while creating awareness on migratory fish problems.
Other human-made obstacles like dams, weirs and sluices disrupt the natural flow of rivers and prevent fish migration. Many fish need to migrate to reproduce, feed and complete their life cycles. Migratory species make up a crucial link in the food chain and play an important ecological role in productive river systems. They also provide an important food supply and livelihood for millions of people around the world.
By working together we can improve our impact on raising awareness, sharing ideas, securing commitments. By doing so, we create a greater driving force, which will allow for easier management, conservation and rehabilitation of migratory fish stocks.
Read more about the day: http://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/about
© Thomas P. Peschak/WWF
World Fish Migration Day is a global initiative to create awareness of the importance of migratory fish.
© World Fish Migration Day
Migration at a glance.