Sponsored Storage Trailer Adds to Groenvlei Carp Project
For a hungry person breakfast comes before conservation. The Groenvlei carp project aims to remove invasive carp from the system while at the same time creating a positive spin off for the communities in need.
Carp is an invasive fish species that were illegally introduced in Groenvlei near Sedgefield in the 1990s. The Groenvlei lake is the ideal environment for the carp and as a result the carp have increased to the extent where they are causing ecological degradation to this unique freshwater lake.
In 2018 a concerned resident from Sedgefield approached CapeNature with a proposal to remove the carp. Initially the carp were utilized as organic compost. During the Covid-19 pandemic the possibility of utilizing the carp as a food source were investigated with the project expanding with the assistance of partners, Invasive Fish Species Management and Gift of the Givers.
The carp removal techniques were also adapted and refined during the carp removal with various types of fishing nets being utilized. Some of the fishing nets and other equipment were also sponsored to Invasive Fish Species management by members of the public which assisted with the removal of 7856.61 kg of carp supplied to the community as a food source.
On 30 September 2022 the global fishing company Oceana joined the initiative by sponsoring a refrigerated trailer which will assist with the distribution of the carp. Gift of the Givers has also contributed with additional operational funding to secure the sustainability of the project.
The Oceana corporate and regulatory affairs head Zodwa Velleman said the company's decision to get involved was an easy one. "Our brand promise is to positively impact lives, and food security is integral to what we do as a business.
Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman stated that project had been launched with the aim of confronting two major problems. It addresses the problem of invasive carp while simultaneously providing relief to disadvantaged communities in need.
CapeNature CEO Razeena Omar thanked all the partners as well as the public that have contributed to this very successful project. She stated that the project creates a win-win situation as it promotes biodiversity conservation and benefits to the community by removing the carp to feed hungry people.
Related News
Boost for freshwater biodiversity as Wilderness Nature Reserve declared
A new nature reserve has been declared in the Western Cape, marking another significant milestone for the province’s environment. The Wilderness Nature Reserve, spanning over 643 hectares, has been declared a Provincial Nature Reserve in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003).
Rocherpan clean-up kicks off MPA Day 2025 celebrations
CapeNature kicked off Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day celebrations with a community-driven beach clean-up at Rocherpan Nature Reserve on 31 July 2025. With school learners, volunteers, and the ever-popular Cubs Club mascot, Kai, lending a hand, all to highlight the link between marine and ocean protection and a public responsibility for conservation.
Winning hearts and minds through Marine Protected Areas
Our marine areas are teeming with life and a variety of protection measures are used to protect the ocean, such as precautionary fishery management principles (bag limits, size limits, catch limits and closed seasons) and shipping and pollution regulations. But at the heart of the protection efforts, are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are demarcated areas to conserve this incredible biodiversity. MPAs can form critical refugia for some more resident species, which may become extinct without protection. All species and ecosystems form part of the overall functioning marine ecosystem and its ability to sustain direct and indirect use. The need to conserve MPAs is based on scientific evidence as well as frequent public engagement and participation in active protection of these areas.
New nature reserve secures rare Cape Vernal Pools habitat
The Franco Three Fountains Nature Reserve is declared a protected area, marking a significant conservation turning point as the first and only reserve dedicated to safeguarding the rare and ecologically important Cape Vernal Pools (a rare and endangered type of seasonal wetland ecosystem found within the Greater Cape Floristic Region). This unique vegetation type, previously unrepresented across our conservation areas, now finds its largest protected expanse within the boundaries of this reserve.
Biodiversity crime often overlooked but its impact is devastating
Biodiversity crime is a growing and often overlooked threat that directly harms South Africa’s unique ecosystems. From the illegal plant trade in the Western Cape to poaching and even picking wildflowers in protected areas without a permit, these acts all contribute to the degradation of biodiversity and the loss of crucial natural resources.
New EPWP intake launches careers in conservation and eco-tourism in the Western Cape
CapeNature has welcomed 475 new participants into a three-year Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) cycle, emphasising its commitment to skills development, conservation, and community upliftment across the province.
A small cohort of these participants, based at Kogelberg and Stony Point Nature Reserves, were officially welcomed at an event hosted at Kogelberg and led by Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell.
How can I assist you today?
How can I assist you today?