Rationale (Changed due to Same category but change in criteria)

The Berg-Breede River Whitefish (Pseudobarbus capensis, previously Barbus andrewi) was historically widespread in the Berg and Breede River systems of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As a result of the impacts of alien invasive fishes and habitat degradation, most occurring in the mid 20th century, it is now confined to three to five threat defined locations in the Breede River System. These are the Brandvlei/Kwaggaskloof Dam which has the biggest subpopulations, the Sanddrif Dam and the middle reaches of the Breede River. It also occurs in the Hex River and Koekedou River but these two locations are considered nonviable subpopulations and most likely to go extinct in the near future. The extent of occurrence (EOO) has been calculated as 4699 km² and the area of occupancy (AOO) is 60 km². All subpopulations are currently experiencing continuous decline due to impacts by predatory alien fish species, which requires ongoing monitoring. The species is listed as Endangered B1ab(iii,iv,v)+2ab(iii,iv,v).

Distribution

The Berg-Breede River Whitefish is endemic to the Berg and Breede River Systems of the Western Cape Province, South Africa (Skelton 2001). Originally widespread in both systems (Harrison 1952), it is now common only in two large impoundments (Brandvlei Dam near the town of Worcester and Sanddrif Dam near the town of De Doorns). It is believed to have gone extinct in the Berg River (Impson 2003). Recent surveys indicated that there is a viable subpopulation in the middle Breede River near the Brandvlei Dam, it also occurs in a small section of the Hex River and the Koekedoe River. 

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

Threats

Major threats are invasive alien fishes and habitat degradation due to agricultural activities. Predatory impacts of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) being the most significant factor driving this species to extinction in the Berg River system. Bass species (Micropterus spp) dominate preferred Berg-Breede River Whitefish habitat and severely impact on recruitment as they eat all Berg-Breede River Whitefish juveniles. The Berg and Breede catchments are characterized by intensive agricultural development, with several large towns (Paarl, Robertson and Worcester) on major rivers, culminating in over-abstracted and polluted rivers that have become a haven for other alien fish species such as European Carp (Cyprinus carpio), African Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). These alien species compete with P. capensis for resources and African Sharptooth Catfish may exert substantial predation pressure on juvenile Berg-Breede River Whitefish. 

Uses and trade

Berg-Breede River Whitefish is listed as endangered under Schedule 1 of the Provincial Nature Conservation Ordinance for the Western Cape, thereby preventing the collection and trade of the species without a permit. It is also listed nationally as a Threatened or Protected Species under South Africa’s National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act of 2004. It is an angling target in Brandvlei Dam where fish are common and appreciated by anglers. Translocations of this species are controlled by CapeNature’s Indigenous Fish Utilisation Policy (Jordaan et al. 2016). It is sometimes kept in public aquaria for awareness and education purposes.

Conservation

The species is afforded some protection by being included as an endangered and protected species under both provincial and national environmental legislation which requires catch and release. Unfortunately less than 1% of its preferred habitat is inside formally protected areas. Pseudobarbus capensis has been successfully cultured (Smith 1987, Bok and Immelman 1989) for re-stocking purposes and to stock suitable impoundments. It has however not been cultured since 1995 as fish from the abundant Brandvlei Dam population were used for stocking purposes. Individuals from the Brandvlei Dam were stocked into the newly constructed Berg River Dam in 2007, but this action has had limited success (Impson 2011). Although not a true yellowfish (Labeobarbus), Berg-Breede River Whitefish has benefited from awareness and education initiatives (such as status reports) from the National Yellowfish Working Group. More recently, the Berg River Improvement Plan was initiated in 2012 by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning of the Western Cape Provincial government to rehabilitate the Berg River (BRS 2014). Part of the Plan is a whitefish reintroduction plan which was developed by CapeNature in 2016 using the guidelines of the IUCN. This involves the proposed reintroduction of Berg-Breede River Whitefish at two sites on the Berg River and into the Wemmershoek Dam, a large public impoundment within the natural distribution range of the species. It is envisaged that this conservation initiative by CapeNature will lead to the re-establishment of the species in the Berg River System and possible down-listing of the species by the next assessment.