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Anglers frequenting the Vaal River have expressed growing concern about the increasing prevalence of deformed fish in the waters. The phenomenon has left the angling community perturbed, with potential implications for their livelihoods.
Andre Pietersen, a seasoned angler, said:
Pietersen first noticed the anomaly seven years ago, and he has been vocal about it ever since. Despite previous reports to the authorities, little action was taken. Now, the concern looms larger as deformed fish become increasingly prevalent.
Recognising the gravity of the situation, Pietersen sought help from experts to delve deeper into the matter.
Dr Mariska Laubscher, a researcher from GreenHill Laboratories, joined the quest for answers. She commented: "It is unnatural for fish to display so many lesions and appear sick. I am a researcher by nature and spend a lot of time working on disease diagnostics."
The exact cause remains unconfirmed, but Laubscher suggested it may be linked to a combination of pathogens and environmental changes.
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Meanwhile, Dr Gugulethu Moyo, the chief state veterinarian at the Gauteng department of agriculture and rural development, said the images suggest certain conditions we are aware of.
"The deformities, which we call lesions, have mostly been seen in common carp (and rarely silver cap), hence, suggestive of a pathogen which affects only carp fish, as other fish species present in the dam seem to be unaffected."
Moyo said:
While they have identified potential issues affecting fish in the Orange River, the situation in the Vaal remains a mystery but Moyo says they have an idea what's happening.
"We just need definitive lab diagnosis before we can inform exactly on what the angling and the artisanal fishing industry should do in future for purposes of avoiding recurrence of such. However, we do encourage the observance of biosecurity protocols between fishing spots, such as disinfection of fishing tackle and nets in-between sites."
The consumption of any diseased fish with lesions is not encouraged.
Diseased fish should not be thrown back into the water, as they become a source of infection for healthy ones. Burning or burying in lime under the relevant environmental legislation is advised.
"In brevity, it is suffice to say that what is happening is concerning; however, we have the expertise to handle it. We do appreciate the information we are getting from the angling community and we encourage them to keep on alerting us on any happenings that they think are not normal," Moyo said.
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To gather as much data as possible, Pietersen has called upon the public to contact him on +27 79 971 0728 when encountering deformed fish and preserve them in the freshest possible condition.
Anglers who encounter fish with similar symptoms are encouraged to document the findings with photos, coordinates, and a detailed description of the location where the fish was caught.
