The endangered Clanwilliam Yellowfish, Sandfish, Rock Catfish and Chubbyhead Barb are some of 23 identified fish species indigenous to certain Western Cape Rivers. This species is threatened by alien fish, poaching and habitat destruction. As part of our conservation plan, Kromrivier is creating a fish sanctuary by re-habilitating our pristine river and re-introducing indigenous fish species, while physically removing all predatory aliens.

Kromrivier Cederberg Park is a member of the Cederberg Conservancy. This is a voluntary agreement between landowners to manage the environment in a sustainable manner.

Projects

CLANWILLIAM YELLOWFISH (Labeobarbus capensis)

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable

Endemic to the Olifants River System on the West Coast of South Africa. Seems to have gone extinct or is very rare in the mainstream areas of the Upper Olifants River above Clanwilliam Dam and below the Olifants Gorge where they were previously plentiful. They are still widespread in the Doring River and occur in several tributaries of the Cederberg Mountains. The major threats are invasive alien fishes and habitat degradation. Kromrivier was identified as a pristine river and is currently being cleaned from its alien fish species. The Clanwilliam Yellowfish will be re-introduced here.

CLANWILLIAM SANDFISH (Labeo seeberi)

Red List Category & Criteria: Endangered

Endemic to the Olifants River system. It seems to have gone extinct in the Upper Olifants branch of this system, but still occurs in mainstream areas of the Doring River. The major threats are invasive alien fishes and habitat degradation.

CLANWILLIAM ROCK CATFISH (Austroglanis gilli)

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable

Endemic to the Olifants River system in the Western Cape, South Africa. It occurs in tributaries of the Olifants (Oudste, Thee, Noordhoeks, Boontjies, Boskloof, Heks, Rondegat, Jan Dissels, Dwars) and Doring (Biedouw, Tra Tra, Eselbank, Matjies, Krom and Breekkrans) basins of the Olifants River system in the Cederberg Mountains and occurs in the mainstream Olifants River near the Heks tributary. The major threats are invasive alien fishes and habitat degradation. Kromrivier is currently removing all the alien fish species from the river in order to increase the numbers of the Clanwilliam Rock Catfish.

CHUBBYHEAD BARB (Barbus anoplus)

Red List Category & Criteria: Least concern

The species complex has a wide distribution from highveld Limpopo to upland Kwa-Zulu Natal, Transkei, middle and upper Orange River. Also, large coastal rivers in Eastern and Western Cape such as Olifants, Gourits, Gamtoos, Sundays and Great Fish. Major threats include alien fish and habitat changes.

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