Initiated in 1995, Eko-Care Trust is a non-profit organisation aimed at the conservation of South Africa's aquatic ecosystems. It was established when the need arose for an environmental group aimed specifically at the huge task of conserving the country’s dams and rivers through conservation projects and public awareness programmes.
Mission – to conserve aqautic ecosystems for the future. This mission can be translated into three action goals:
Eco-Kleen An ongoing project, Eco-Kleen promotes the distribution of litter bags to visitors at dams. The aim of this project is to educate people to keep the environment clean. Vital spin-offs of Eco-Kleen are recycling and job creation opportunities. Since the project was implemented in December 1995 at Hartbeespoort Dam in North West Province, between 10 000 and 15 000 bags have been distributed each month. Eco-Kleen has since expanded to other dams in Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. Eko-Care’s intends to eventually reach as many dams as possible throughout South Africa. A recent expansion of this project involves the acceptance of co-responsibility ("Adopt a Dam" programme) by dealers in fishing tackle and outdoor equipment to distribute the litter bags provided by Eko-Care to resorts under their care.
Monitoring of Water Pollution Levels Eko-Care Club, the working tool of the Eko-Care Trust, has more than 10 000 members in South Africa and neighbouring countries. Members regularly visit angling and other water sport sites in South Africa. As a result, Eko-Care can report any sign of water pollution or unlawful dumping and alert the authorities to imminent dangers. To this end, Eko-care is participating in the National Biomonitoring Programme conducted by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Water pollution also includes the infestation of aquatic ecosystems by water weeds such as hyacinth. Eko-Care has subsequently joined forces with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in a project called the Big Bad Five. As part of this project thousands of full-colour posters illustrating declared water weeds are distributed countrywide. In addition to the posters, Eko-Care has printed pamphlets illustrating the Big Bad Five. These informative pamphlets are distributed with the Eco-Kleen litter bags.
Conservation of endangered and scarce fish species
Tight Lines, the oldest and most distinguished angling magazine in South Africa, serves as the mouthpiece of Eko-Care. Through this magazine (as well as other media) thousands of people are being reached every month conveying the message of conservation. The use of illegal gill nets is still an immense problem on South Africa's dams. Gill nets pose a threat to conservation as indigenous and scarce fish species are targeted. We have found that even a very common fish species, the blue kurper, has drastically declined in numbers over the past few years in certain dams like Hartbeespoort Dam. The main factors responsible for this decline are low water levels, exceptionally cold winters, water pollution, diminishing natural ecosystems, and gill nets of up to 1km long that have been found in the Hartbeespoort Dam. Another indigenous fish species that is also under tremendous threat is the yellow fish. Some species such as the bigmouth yellow fish only starts reproducing after about seven years. We simply cannot afford to lose this exquisite species because of over-exploitation. A good example of this kind of exploitation is the extensive use of gill nets in the Olifants River near Witbank. The catch is sold at mine hostels on a daily basis. Eko-Care receives reports of gill nets in other areas of South Africa on an almost weekly basis. The most concerning factor about these deadly nets is that apparently mostly indigenous fish species are caught. Eko-Care has a specialist team called the "Gill Net Busters" who use their free time to go out to dams and follow up on reports. These operations are normally carried out on weekdays when the culprits cast their nets with no-one around to report them. Eko-Care's has two motorboats, enabling the "Gill Net Busters" to retrieve illegal nets. Eko-Care maintains a good relationship with most of the provincial departments of nature conservation as these departments do not have the manpower to patrol all inland waters for illegal nets. During a recent netting programme
conducted by Eko-Care under the auspices of Dr Louis de Wet of Waterlab, only one small
scale yellow fish was caught in Rietvlei Dam near Pretoria. During a similar programme
carried out at Rietvlei about ten years ago, small scale yellow fish was the most common
species found there. The disappearance of the small scale yellow fish from these waters is
the direct result of water pollution levels being far above the prescribed levels.
Eko-Care, in conjunction with Dr Wynand Vlok of the University of the North is currently
restocking the Rietvlei Dam and other
All the above-mentioned projects enjoyed media and television coverage. As a non-profit organisation, Eko-Care Trust needs the support and sponsorship of businesses and individuals who are concerned about the future of South Africa's aquatic eco-systems. For more information on how to join the natural heritage of our beautiful waters for future generations, contact us at: Eko-Care Trust Tel/Fax : 012 - 542 3368 (RSA) OR E-mail us ! (ekocare@global.co.za)
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Eko-Care Trustees: Adv. B Venter, SC Ngidi (Nampak Polyfoil), JM Pledger (Tatlow and Pledger), GJ Kapp (Coopers & Lybrand), LH Ferreira (Dyason Attorneys), D Herbst (Statomet), EP Kriel (Stywe Lyne/Tight Lines), P Linford (Reumech Austral), AJ Hermitage, JA de Kock (East Rand Plastics). |
Eko-Care is promoting the conservation of
the country's endangered fish species through the following actions:
rivers with small scale yellow fish.
