Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa
Bothalia - African Biodiversity & Conservation
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa | |
| Creator | Woodford, Darragh J. Ivey, Phillip Jordaan, Martine S. Kimberg, Peter K. Zengeya, Tsungai Weyl, Olaf L.F. | |
| 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 (AIS) 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 AIS 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. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2017-03-31 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/abc.v47i2.2138 | |
| Source | Bothalia; Vol 47, No 2 (2017); 9 pages 2311-9284 0006-8241 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://journals.abcjournal.aosis.co.za/index.php/abc/article/view/2138/2146
https://journals.abcjournal.aosis.co.za/index.php/abc/article/view/2138/2145
https://journals.abcjournal.aosis.co.za/index.php/abc/article/view/2138/2147
https://journals.abcjournal.aosis.co.za/index.php/abc/article/view/2138/2125
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