Conservation at the Breede River

Projects at the LBRCT

• Water Quality Monitoring

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• Alien Invasive Vegetation Monitoring

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• Boat Angler Surveys

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• Bait Monitoring Project

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• Plover and oystercatcher monitoring

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• Monthly bird count

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• Marine mammal sightings

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Water Quality Monitoring

• Monthly water quality runs - DWA
• Temporary probe at 21 sites (Mouth to Malgas Pont)
• Salinity
• Temperature
• pH
• Dissolved Oxygen

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Average salinity values for the wet and dry months between April 2018-March 2019

Alien Invasive �Vegetation

• Still ongoing

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• Species that occur along the Breede:

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• Black Wattle
• Parrot Feather
• Blue Gums
• Water Hyacinth

Boat Angler Surveys

• Roving Creels
• The data collected shows:

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• Targeted Bait

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• Targeted Fish Species

• Caught fish species

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• Areas of high fishing pressure

Percentages of bait types used from creel data.

Species Highlight: Dusky Kob (Argyrosomus japonicus)

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• Worldwide distribution- Pakistan, India, S and E Australia, Hong Kong – Japan.
• Southern Africa - Cape Point to S. Mozambique
• Most abundant - Cape Agulhas - northern KZN

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• Breeds inshore at night in KZN and EC
• Enter estuaries at 20-30 mm TL.
• 30-150 mm TL dependent estuaries.
• Adults mainly nearshore marine environment, but frequent estuaries.
• Breed at 92 cm TL (Males) and 107 cm TL (females) Approx. 6 years
• Maximum: 42 years, 80kg 2050 mm TL

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• Overexploited fish species. Stock has collapsed.
• 360 tons Kob caught in S.A estuaries every year.

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• Current regulations ineffective.

Poor enforcement

Poor compliance and knowledge

• Listed locally as vulnerable by IUCN.
• WHY?
• Slow growing
• Long-lived
• Late reproductive maturity

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Bait Species Monitoring

• Monitor invertebrate species at 6 sites (4 Witsand, 2 Infanta)

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• Track and record populations

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• Using the quadrant method

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• This will assist in plotting population growth or decline in the popular pumping hot spots.

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Monthly bird counts

• Breede Estuary is important for many water associated species.

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• Migrants during summer in high numbers

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• Highest diversity in summer

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• Lowest in winter

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Black Oystercatcher and White-fronted Plover

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• Keystone species

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• White-fronted plovers decreased 30% in many areas

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• Started project last year over breeding season

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• Nests and chicks monitored

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• Numbers in area recorded

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• Hatching and fledging success recorded

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Assistance with respective organisations and their projects

Rescue and Rehabilitation

• Trained to stabilize penguins, turtles and other seabirds:

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• Report stranded whales, dolphins, sharks and turtles.

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• Penguins, seals and injured birds on the beach.

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• Two Oceans – Turtle Stranding Talk

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Marine Mammal Research

• Humpback Dolphins in Breede Estuary

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• Marine Mammal sightings

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• Marine Mammal strandings

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• Collaborative work with DEA

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• CFS - determine a trend of how often they’re seen

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Environmental Education

• December Holidays:

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• PR and Community Education:

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• Beach cleanup
• Tidal Pool Walk
• Crabs
• Nudibranch
• Starfish
• Sea Urchins

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• Monthly Newsletter
• Weekly informative social media posts

Marine debris

• 4 sites in Witsand per month
• 1 in infanta

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• Main litter types

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• Nurdles still being found on beaches

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• Small plastic pieces
• Cigarette Butts
• Glass pieces
• Packing foam/plastic material
• Fishing related litter
• Plastic bottles

LBRCT Coming Soon…

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1. Expansion of marine litter project
2. Expansion of Plover project incl. adoptions
3. Recording of dog zone violations
4. Beach roving creel surveys
5. Tagging of fish species in the Breede Estuary
6. International Intern
7. Improving holiday programme events
8. UCT project on plastic biofouling
9. All updates on members newsletter

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