Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa
Background: South Africa hosts a large number of non-native freshwater fishes that were introduced for various industries. Many of these species are now listed under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) Alien and Invasive Species (A&IS) lists and regulations, though t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African National Biodiversity Institut
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/2138 |
| _version_ | 1818458050898427904 |
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| author | Darragh J. Woodford Phillip Ivey Martine S. Jordaan Peter K. Kimberg Tsungai Zengeya Olaf L.F. Weyl |
| author_facet | Darragh J. Woodford Phillip Ivey Martine S. Jordaan Peter K. Kimberg Tsungai Zengeya Olaf L.F. Weyl |
| author_sort | Darragh J. Woodford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: South Africa hosts a large number of non-native freshwater fishes that were introduced for various industries. Many of these species are now listed under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) Alien and Invasive Species (A&IS) lists and regulations, though the practical options available to conservation agencies to effectively manage these fishes vary greatly among species and regions.
Objectives & methods: We assessed the history and status of national legislation pertaining to invasive freshwater fishes, and the practical implications of the legislation for managing different species with contrasting distributions, impacts and utilisation value.
Results: The smallmouth bass, despite being a potential conflict-generating species, is fairly straightforward to manage based on current legislation. Two species of trout, which remain absent from the NEM:BA A&IS lists because of ongoing consultation with stakeholders, continue to be managed in regions like the Western Cape province using existing provincial legislation. To maximise the limited capacity for management within conservation agencies, we proposed a decision-support tool that prioritises invasive fish populations that represent high environmental risk and low potential for conflict with stakeholders. Using three case studies, we demonstrated how the tool can be used to set management goals of ‘eradicate’, ‘manage against impacts and further spread’ and ‘continue to monitor population’ as the most pragmatic solutions given the state of an invasion, its socio-economic impact and the capacity of the responsible agency to act.
Conclusion: By choosing a pragmatic management strategy, conservation agencies can maximise the effective deployment of limited resources, while minimising avoidable conflicts with stakeholders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:52:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d53f7417b367402088f3e3bea2333ee9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0006-8241 2311-9284 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:52:18Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | South African National Biodiversity Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-d53f7417b367402088f3e3bea2333ee92022-12-21T22:44:41ZengSouth African National Biodiversity InstitutBothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation0006-82412311-92842017-03-01472e1e910.4102/abc.v47i2.21381879Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South AfricaDarragh J. Woodford0Phillip Ivey1Martine S. Jordaan2Peter K. Kimberg3Tsungai Zengeya4Olaf L.F. Weyl5Centre for Invasion Biology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand; South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), GrahamstownSouth African National Biodiversity Institute, Cussonia, PretoriaSouth African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Grahamstown; Cape Nature Scientific Services CapeNature Scientific Services, StellenboschThe Biodiversity Company (TBC), JohannesburgSouth African National Biodiversity Institute, Cussonia, Pretoria,South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Grahamstown; Centre for Invasion Biology, SAIAB, GrahamstownBackground: South Africa hosts a large number of non-native freshwater fishes that were introduced for various industries. Many of these species are now listed under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) Alien and Invasive Species (A&IS) lists and regulations, though the practical options available to conservation agencies to effectively manage these fishes vary greatly among species and regions. Objectives & methods: We assessed the history and status of national legislation pertaining to invasive freshwater fishes, and the practical implications of the legislation for managing different species with contrasting distributions, impacts and utilisation value. Results: The smallmouth bass, despite being a potential conflict-generating species, is fairly straightforward to manage based on current legislation. Two species of trout, which remain absent from the NEM:BA A&IS lists because of ongoing consultation with stakeholders, continue to be managed in regions like the Western Cape province using existing provincial legislation. To maximise the limited capacity for management within conservation agencies, we proposed a decision-support tool that prioritises invasive fish populations that represent high environmental risk and low potential for conflict with stakeholders. Using three case studies, we demonstrated how the tool can be used to set management goals of ‘eradicate’, ‘manage against impacts and further spread’ and ‘continue to monitor population’ as the most pragmatic solutions given the state of an invasion, its socio-economic impact and the capacity of the responsible agency to act. Conclusion: By choosing a pragmatic management strategy, conservation agencies can maximise the effective deployment of limited resources, while minimising avoidable conflicts with stakeholders.https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/2138National legislationconflict speciesdecision support frameworkmanagement approach |
| spellingShingle | Darragh J. Woodford Phillip Ivey Martine S. Jordaan Peter K. Kimberg Tsungai Zengeya Olaf L.F. Weyl Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation National legislation conflict species decision support framework management approach |
| title | Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa |
| title_full | Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa |
| title_short | Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa |
| title_sort | optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in south africa |
| topic | National legislation conflict species decision support framework management approach |
| url | https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/2138 |
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