Red List of South African Species

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Vulnerable (VU)
B1ab(i,v)
Assessors: Albert Chakona Roger Bills
Contributors: Jim Cambray
Facilitators: Dewidine Van Der Colff
Reviewers: Olaf Weyl

Rationale

This species is endemic to the Tugela River System in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa where it is currently considered to be widespread and common, although there are no recent system-wide surveys that have been conducted to determine the current status of the species in this system. The major threat to this species is hydrological modification of the systems such as the construction of dams and barriers to fish movement. A potential threat to this species is the possible introduction of congeneric species through interbasin water transfer schemes. This could lead to genetic pollution through potential hybridisation as reported for Labeo umbratus and L. capensis in the Eastern Cape Province (Ramoejane 2016). The species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 16,235 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 148 km² and is thus classified as Vulnerable under criteria B1ab(i,v).

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Tugela River System in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Skelton 2001).

Population trend

Trend

This species is considered to be widespread in the Tugela River System, but this is based on data from historical surveys. There is need for system-wide surveys to determine the status of this species using updated information. There are concerns that development of interbasin water transfer schemes may potentially have long term impacts through potential hybridisation between the native species and introduced congenerics. Recent ad hoc surveys suggest that the species may not be as common as currently perceived (Chakona, unpublished data), but this needs to be verified with comprehensive surveys of the entire system using multiple sampling gears to sample all available habitats.

Threats

Key threats include hydrological modification through construction of dams which also form impassable barriers to fish movement, however further investigation is required to confirm the extent of these impacts on this species and their presence in these dams.  Some of these dams include the Ntshingwayo Kamahole Xhosa Dam (previously Chelmsford Dam), the Sunday River Dam, Kliprivier River Dam, Kilburn Dam, Putterrilspruit Dam, Venterspruit tributary as well as dams on the mainstem Tugela and the Little Tugela River. As with many other species in the region, the lack of information on current distribution patterns, population sizes and trends is in itself a key threat. Further, there is also potential threat of introduction of additional Labeo species through interbasin water transfer schemes, which may result in potential hybridisation.

Conservation

Currently the species has no protection. Construction of fishways should be considered, but this need to be informed by scientific data generated through extensive surveys to determine the status of the populations, genetic integrity and identify effective conservation measures for this species.

References 

[@article{18475,
 author = {Skelton, P.H.},
 title = {A Complete Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa},
 year = {2001}
}
,@electronic{2573,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-1},
 year = {2018}
}
,@phdthesis{63286,
 author = {Ramoejane, M. },
 school = {PhD thesis Rhodes University},
 title = {Genetic diversity, evolutionary relationships and conservation of southern African fishes in relation to water management},
 year = {2016}
}
,]
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