AfriForum calls on public to collect data on Vaal River’s sick fish

AfriForum notes with concern reports received of sick and injured fish recorded in the Vaal River, and especially in the Deneysville area. Vaal Weekblad’s report on this earlier today stems from a Facebook post by a concerned member of the public.

According to André Pietersen, a member of the VERREF Fishing Club and a concerned member of the public who coordinates the data collection process on this phenomenon, several role players are already involved in an investigation regarding the increased incidence of sick and injured fish in the Vaal River. Several experts, including Dr Mariska Laubscher, a microbiologist from to the University of Cape Town, and Dr Gugulethu Moyo, chief state veterinarian at the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the environmental pressure group Save the Vaal Environment (SAVE) form part of the investigation team.

AfriForum calls on the public to participate in this team’s data collection process. Anglers should be on the lookout for fish showing unusual symptoms, such as blood seeping through the scales or fins. Anglers who come across fish with similar symptoms in the Vaal River system are requested to send photos of the sick fish, together with coordinates and/or an accurate description of the place where the fish was caught, to Pietersen. This data will be very valuable in their investigation to determine the cause of the fish’s illness.

“It is common knowledge that the entire Vaal River system is under tremendous pressure due to pollution from industries, mining and untreated sewage flowing into the river due to malfunctioning municipal sewage systems. Polluters get away with it because the government lacks the ability to enforce environmental legislation and prosecute violators. Whatever the exact cause of the fish’s illness, it can be safely assumed that this illness is a symptom of the unhealthy and unbalanced ecosystem that has long characterised the Vaal River,” says Marais de Vaal, AfriForum’s Advisor for Environmental Affairs.

“As soon as the investigation sheds further light on the possible cause, AfriForum will make sure that the parties involved are held responsible. The Vaal River supplies drinking water to millions of people in Gauteng, the Free State, North West and the Northern Cape. It is therefore essential that this water resource must be protected against pollution,” concludes De Vaal.

All information regarding sick or injured fish must be sent to André Pietersen on 079 971 0728.