The South African State of Rivers Report: uMngeni River and Neighbouring Rivers and Streams

RHP

South African
River Health Programme

State of the Rivers Report
uMngeni River and Neighbouring Rivers and Streams

The uMngeni River boasts 48 species of freshwater (FW) fish (36 indigenous and 12 alien), listed here. A further 57 species are found in the estuary that do not come into fresh water. These have not been shown here.
Common Name riverbeam longspine glassy Natal mountain catfish African mottled eel Madagascar mottled eel longfin eel Anguilla Natal topminnow freshwater goby chubbyhead barb redtail barb straightfin barb bowstripe barb duckbill sleeps goldfish sharptooth catfish grass carp carp dusky sleeper blackthroat goby tropical sand-goby mosquitofish estuarine roundherring sleepy goby river goby tank goby golden sleeper scaly/KZN yellowfish bluegill river snapper opossum pipefish freshwater pipefish smallmouth bass spotted bass largemouth bass Natal moony Cape moony flathead mullet freshwater mullet rainbow trout Mozambique tilapia guppy southern mouthbrooder checked goby brown trout bearded eelby redbreast tilapia banded tilapia swordtail	Species Names (# means alien) Acanthopagrus berda Ambassis productus Amphilius natalensis Anguilla bengalensis labiata Anguilla marmorata Anguilla mossambica Aplochilichthys myaposae Awaous aeneofuscus Barbus anoplus Barbus gurneyi Barbus paludinosus Barbus viviporus Butis butis Carassius auratus # Clarias gariepinus Ctenopharyngodon idella # Cyprinus carpio # Eleotris fusca Favonigobius melanobrachus Favonigobius reichei Gambusia affinis # Gilchristella aestuaria Glossogobius biocellatus Glossogobius callidus Glossogobius giuris Hypseleotris cyprinoids Labeobarbus natalensis Lepomis macrochirus # Lutjanus argentimaculatus Microphis brachyurus Microphis fluviatilis Micropterus dolomieu # Micropterus punctulatus # Micropterus salmoides # Monodactylus argenteus Monodactylus falciformis Mugil cephalus Myxus capensis Oncorhynchus mykiss # Oreochromis mossambicus Poecilia reticulata # Pseudocrenilabrus philander Redigobius dewaali Salmo trutta # Taenioides jacksoni Tilapia rendalli Tilapia sparrmanii Xiphophorus helleri #	Notes FW/estuarine FW/estuarine FW/estuarine FW/estuarine Red Data FW/estuarine Red Data FW/estuarine FW/estuarine Red Data Red Data FW/estuarine FW/estuarine FW/estuarine FW/estuarine FW/estuarine FW/estuarine Red Data Red Data FW/estuarine Red Data

Checked goby	Golden sleeper
Freshwater mullet	Redbreast tilapia
Southern mouthbrooder	Bowstripe barb
Natal mountain catfish	Chubbyhead barb

INDIGENOUS FISH OF THE UMNGENI RIVER

Some of the more interesting species include:
Mozambique tilapia	KZN yellowfish	KZN yellowfish jump a weir

The longfin eel is the most common eel found in this river system. Eels breed at sea and juveniles migrate up rivers, even climbing waterfalls and dam walls.

The scaly, nowadays much sought-after by flyfishersmen and the redtail barb are endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, i.e. found only in this province.

The Natal mountain catfish, a small scaleless species normally associated with mountain foothill streams.

The flathead mullet and freshwater mullet (endemic) are common in fresh waters near the coast and occur up as far as Inanda Dam.

Four tilapia species are found in the uMngeni system. The redbreast tilapia has been translocated from the Pongolo system into farm dams, where it has a valuable impact on over-abundant water weeds. The Mozambique tilapia, the banded tilapia and the southern mouthbrooder occur naturally in the uMngeni system.

The golden sleeper is an attractive and scarce species found in a few streams near the mouth of the uMngeni, but not in the main river.

There are five scarce goby species and one scarce eleotrid species found in the estuary area. All are small and lack colour and so are not very noticeable. Of these, the bearded eelgoby lives in burrows in soft mud and is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal.

Exotic fish populations abound and in some cases threaten indigenous fish populations. Fortunately most of the exotic fish are best suited to living in the dams in the region where their impact cannot be considered as serious. Bass in particular are voracious predators in dams and sometimes in rivers. Trout also thrive in the dams and in the upper reaches of the uMngeni River where their impact is varied and the subject of controversy.

FISHING

The uMngeni River and its bigger tributaries have indigenous and introduced fish species and thus offer a range of options to fishermen.

Trout angling is popular in the headwaters and has been since around 1895 when the first trout hatchery was built near Belgowan. Midmar Dam catches include barbel, carp and the KZN yellowfish during spring.

Between Howick Falls and Albert Falls Dam, the river is rocky with fast flowing water - ideal habitat for the KZN yellowfish which is also a popular catch here. The Albert Falls Dam itself is an excellent angling venue. While the fish species are much the same as in the Midmar Dam, the warmer water and abundance of submerged trees result in greater growth and the capture of more trophy size specimens.

Downstream of Albert Falls, the river is well known for its carp but further downstream the KZN yellowfish and catfish are popular to both recreational and subsistence fishermen. Nagle Dam provides good catches of carp, tilapia and catfish, but neither Nagle or Inanda Dam are considered prime fishing venues.

Blue Lagoon, with its additional saltwater species, was historically a hive of fishing activity, but deterioration in river health and siltation of the estuary led to a decline in the angling. However, recently, the estuary has seen a resurgence in angling popularity. Light tackle anglers in particular are now common here and catch a variety of species such as kingfish, springer, and gurnards. These are all marine fish but hopefully this indicates that the estuary is once again becoming a nursery for many fish species.