Freshwater science takes centre stage at the 2026 SASAqS Conference

The Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAqS) is a learned society concerned with the research, management and conservation of inland waters and their associated biota throughout southern Africa. Established in 1964 as the Limnological Society of South Africa, SASAqS provides an important forum for discussion and sharing of scientific ideas. The two cornerstones of the society's activities are the annual conference and the African Journal of Aquatic Science. The society has also contributed to a variety of projects ranging from National Legislation to the publication of books.

The 2026 conference was held in the picturesque town of Port Alfred and ensured an opportunity for colleagues to connect and for young scientists and students to start building on future collaborations. Conference highlights included a keynote presentation by Prof Paul Skelton who is considered one of the leading authorities of freshwater fish taxonomy globally. Paul is author of the comprehensive field guide Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa.

Another highlight included a session on the various taxon-specific outputs under the REFRESH project – a Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) funded project that aimed to (1) collect foundational biodiversity data for seven groups of freshwater taxa through field surveys to information gaps in under-sampled ecoregions, (2) georeference and digitise existing uncatalogued distribution records and (3) help build capacity to expedite biodiversity inventories and assessment of species extinction risk. The project was led by researchers from the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). CapeNature ecologist Dr Martine Jordaan played an active role in the Western Cape component of the REFRESH project and presented her work on evaluating the role of Protected Areas in the Western Cape for the protection of indigenous freshwater fish.

The conference concluded with a formal function where the student prizes for best presentation were awarded to celebrate young and upcoming freshwater scientists. The society also acknowledges the excellence of established researchers in the field by handing out SASAqS medals. This year’s gold medal recipients were Prof Janine Adams, estuarine scientist from Nelson Mandela University and Prof Nico Smit, freshwater fish parasitologist from the North West University.

The awards served as a fitting reminder that the future of freshwater conservation depends on both nurturing young scientists and recognising those who have made lasting contributions to the discipline.