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Tempoerature changes and fish kills

------ Forwarded Message
From: Pierre de Villiers <estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za>
Organization: CapeNature
Reply-To: <estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 16:04:26 +0200
To: <4_babich@fishingowl.co.za>
Subject: RE: Tempoerature changes and fish kills

Dear Trevor
 
It would be good to select some serious offenders and set up a scientific monitoring programme just below their effluent pipes. Nobody can then duck and dive out of this.
 
I will chat to some funders about this concept. It will need camouflaging as it will be politically sensitive. 10 sites can be monitored with four or five being critical.
 
This is an idea everyone can look at.
 
Regards
 
Pierre
 

Pierre de Villiers
Co-ordinator: C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme
CapeNature
Private Bag 5014
Stellenbosch 7599
Tel: +27-21-866 8023
Fax: +27-21-866 1523
Cell: 083 236 2924
Email: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Url:     http://www.capenature.co.za

From: 4_babich@fishingowl.co.za [mailto:4_babich@fishingowl.co.za]
Sent: 23 September 2006 17:50
To: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Subject: Re: Temperature changes and fish kills

Dear Morne
 
They have died in the Vaal since I joined the Department in 1992. It was an issue nobody could answer and tended to be Moggel. Ask Rand Water about this. Ralph Heath use to deal with this issue.
 
There are now more people aware of the plight of the river so it seems more obvious.
 
The fish kills at other times of the year are 99.9% pollution as a direct cause not an indirect cause. Yes the temperature as I said kills quicker if the fish are stressed.
 
Regards
 
Pierre
 

Pierre de Villiers
Co-ordinator: C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme
CapeNature
Private Bag 5014
Stellenbosch 7599
Tel: +27-21-866 8023
Fax: +27-21-866 1523
Cell: 083 236 2924
Email: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Url:     http://www.capenature.co.za


From: 4_babich@fishingowl.co.za [mailto:4_babich@fishingowl.co.za] <mailto:4_babich@fishingowl.co.za%5d>
Sent: 22 September 2006 18:27
To: Morne Viljoen; estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za; eliset@mweb.co.za
Subject: Re: Tempoerature changes and fish kills


Pierre
 
As I understand it (and we’ve spoken to the guys at the JLB Institute), a sudden temperature change will only kill fish if the water is already polluted and the fish stressed.  Why is it that fish only recently started to die of temperature changes, when the Vaal is as old as the mountains?
 
I would appreciate it if you can find out whether there was a sudden dam release.  I’ve got a suspicion that if there was indeed one, it was done to wash away fish that have already died because of pollution and the subsequent influx of cold water exacerbated the already existing problem.
 
Regards
  

Morné Viljoen
Natural Resources Law Department
BDZ Attorneys
(W) (011) 886-4628
(F)  (011) 886-4452
(C)  083-395-3929

-----Original Message-----
From: Pierre de Villiers [mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za] <mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za%5d> <mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za%5d>
Sent: 21 September 2006 08:42 AM
To: 'Morne Viljoen'
Subject: RE: Huge Fish kills at Standerton 2

Dear Morne
 
There is a chance that the fish up there did die from a sudden temperature change. This can be caused by an early cold rain. We can check if this has taken place in the area (or a sudden dam release). At this time of year there are sudden temperature changes (naturally). Increase in temperature increases the bacterial action which increase the production of ammonia (if there are high volumes of sewerage in the water). This will stress the fish or kill them. A sudden temperature will definitely kill the stressed fish. The increased ammonia is broken down into nitrites and nitrates. Nitrites kill and nitrates fertilize the water and as temperatures increase the algae blooms. This takes the oxygen out of the water at night. This also kills the fish especially if they are stressed.
 
There are some serious dynamics within an aquatic ecosystem. One can explain things in different ways. However, no matter how you explain it huge organic loads act as a time bomb. No matter which way you look at it, it is killing the fish. The river can break this stuff down over time but not at the existing loads. This is why the water actually improves lower down in the river.
 
We must keep the pressure on SA. Things have to turn some time.
 
Good luck and regards
 
Pierre
 

Pierre de Villiers
Co-ordinator: C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme
CapeNature
Private Bag 5014
Stellenbosch 7599
Tel: +27-21-866 8023
Fax: +27-21-866 1523
Cell: 083 236 2924
Email: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Url:    http://www.capenature.co.za



From: Morne Viljoen [mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za] <mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za%5d>  <mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za%5d>  
Sent: 21 September 2006 08:23
To: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Subject: RE: Huge Fish kills at Standerton 2

Pierre
 
Can you believe that Water Affairs now says that the fish died on temperature changes!!!  What a load of bull!!
 
I’ve done 3 interviews yesterday, RSG, Beeld and the M&G and did not pull any punches.
 
Let’s see if we can get something done.
 
Thanks for your imput.
 

Morné Viljoen
Natural Resources Law Department
BDZ Attorneys
(W) (011) 886-4628
(F)  (011) 886-4452
(C) 083-395-3929

-----Original Message-----
From: Pierre de Villiers [mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za] <mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za%5d> <mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za%5d>
Sent: 21 September 2006 08:17 AM
To: 'Morne Viljoen'
Subject: RE: Huge Fish kills at Standerton 2

Dear Morne
 
I have sent the information to DEAT director general as well as some politicians. I will follow up on this weekly and let you know.
 
Your assessment of the current situation is correct. The actors in SA are playing a game. We have to learn to play it and beat them at it. So please do not give up now. Let us take the rumble to them.
 
Regards
 
Pierre
 

Pierre de Villiers
Co-ordinator: C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme
CapeNature
Private Bag 5014
Stellenbosch 7599
Tel: +27-21-866 8023
Fax: +27-21-866 1523
Cell: 083 236 2924
Email: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Url:    http://www.capenature.co.za

From: Morne Viljoen [mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za] <mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za%5d>  <mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za%5d>  
Sent: 20 September 2006 08:26
To: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Cc: Trevor Babich (Fishingowl)
Subject: RE: Huge Fish kills at Standerton 2

Hi Pierre
 
Thanks for your support.  An article about this is on the front page of today’s Beeld.
 
I’m really gatvol and am wondering whether it’s worth my while to continue the fight.  I initially thought that ignorance of municipal staff and councilors was the cause, but in this case DWAF claimed that they did not even know about this spill (it started a month ago) and the municipal manager said he gave instructions for the dead fish to be removed from the river – but did not do anything else – he did not even report the event to DWAF!  I think that the word “dom-astrant” that we use in Afrikaans describes them the best.  They’re ignorant, cocky and generally feel a flying f***k.  
 
The only solution is to get the f****kers arrested and to send info of each and every pollution incident to FIFA as well as other international environmental organisations with the demand that the 2010 World Cup be taken away from SA.  You’re either gonna get murdered or get very sick of the water.  Trevor Babich is already collecting all the evidence (please send any info that you may have on pollution to him at 4_babich@fishingowl.co.za)
 
Trevor and I have reported more than one spill to the green scorpions and DEAT, who either ignored us or informed us that they only deal with other types of pollution or focus on perlemoen smuggling etc.  This can not be correct.  Section 34 of NEMA read together with Schedule 3 thereof specifically deals with water pollution and the prosecution of polluters – by DEAT.
 
Your comments please?
 

Morné Viljoen
Natural Resources Law Department
BDZ Attorneys
(W) (011) 886-4628
(F)  (011) 886-4452
(C) 083-395-3929

-----Original Message-----
From: Pierre de Villiers [mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za] <mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za%5d> <mailto:estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za%5d>
Sent: 20 September 2006 07:52 AM
To: 'Morne Viljoen'
Subject: RE: Huge Fish kills at Standerton 2

Dear Morne
 
Thank you for this. I will follow up on it with National DEAT. I am f^&$#(*& tense about this whole situation.
 
Please keep sending me this type of evidence.
 
Regards
 
Pierre
 

Pierre de Villiers
Co-ordinator: C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme
CapeNature
Private Bag 5014
Stellenbosch 7599
Tel: +27-21-866 8023
Fax: +27-21-866 1523
Cell: 083 236 2924
Email: estuaries@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za
Url:    http://www.capenature.co.za

From: Morne Viljoen [mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za] <mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za%5d>  <mailto:mviljoen@bdz.co.za%5d>  
Sent: 19 September 2006 17:19
To: Trevor Babich (Fishingowl); BEN; razor-spike; Garth Wellman; Juanita Kruger; Lizelle de Villiers; Pa; Pierre de Villiers
Subject: Huge Fish kills at Standerton 2

Hi everybody
 
I do not have all the details yet, but herewith some photo’s of a huge fish kill in the Vaal at Standerton.  Absolutely sickening
 
 

Morné Viljoen
Natural Resources Law Department
BDZ Attorneys
(W) (011) 886-4628
(F)  (011) 886-4452
(C) 083-395-3929

-----Original Message-----
From: Elise Tempelhoff [mailto:eliset@beeld.com] <mailto:eliset@beeld.com%5d>  <mailto:eliset@beeld.com%5d>  
Sent: 19 September 2006 03:23 PM
To: Fotograwe Beeld
Cc: 'Mviljoen@BDZ.co.za'
Subject: FW: Emailing: IMG_0317.JPG

<<IMG_0317.JPG>>
Duisende visse wat gevrek het in Vaalrivier by Standerton.
Foto: Andre du Plessis

-----Original Message-----
From: Mar-Peh Medicare
To: Elise Tempelhoff
Sent: 2006/09/19 02:35
Subject: Emailing: IMG_0317.JPG


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