Celebrate healthy rivers and fish at Skukuza
The public will be informed about the importance of migratory fish and the need for healthy, free-flowing rivers.
In commemoration of World Fish Migration Day (WFMD), Kruger National Park (KNP) hosts an event in Skukuza Camp tomorrow, April 21.
The public is invited to attend the event intended to raise awareness on the importance of migratory fish and the need for having healthy, free-flowing rivers to ensure connectivity. The park will broadcast the activities of the day via live-stream media and share footage with other African countries taking part in the celebrations.
Visitors will have an opportunity to view displays and videos on migrating fish with their families and take part in competitions and games. There will also be live demonstrations by scientists.
“We are excited to be the headquarters of Africa’s event,” said SANParks’ freshwater ecologist, Robin Petersen. “We would like to showcase the park’s unique elements such as how we have successfully removed 21 obsolete dams to improve connectivity and the health of rivers, how our fishways are designed and plans to further improve current connectivity in KNP.”
The programme for Saturday will include videos, games and family activities from 10:00, with the official launch at 12:30.
A new book titled From Sea to Source 2.0 which will provide a practical guide to tackling the threat of dams and promoting the protection and restoration of fish migration will be launched.
A field excursion with the key stakeholders will commence at 14:00.
Fish face a number of threats and physical barriers such as dams, and weirs are one of the challenges for these species. These structures also have a potential to disrupt the natural flow of rivers, which is critical for procreation.
Free-flowing rivers help with water purification, food mitigation, and pollution control while protecting against storm surges and rising sea levels.
