Fish could be re-introduced to Jackson Dam

ALBERTON – Jackson Dam Fishing Club members, who had cared for the Jackson Dam fish for years, discovered a great number of dead fish floating on the dam on Sunday, June 28.

Read: More than 100 dead fish found in Jackson Dam

A statement from Rand Water suggested that a possible reason for the death of the fish was a temperature impact created by extremely low temperatures on June 27. A temperature impact sounded unlikely to Robin Norton, the fishing club president, as he witnessed the surviving fish gradually end up on the banks of the dam too.

Read: Answers - Dead in the water

Two weeks after the discovery, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) released the results of their investigation. Spokesperson Themba Gadebe stated that the death of the fish was not due to pollution but may have resulted from a high level of chlorine in the water. “It is known that chlorine, even in the amount found in tap water, is toxic to fish.”

The EMM stated that meetings would be held to discuss re-mediating the water and relocating the surviving fish.

Read: Jackson Dam - EMM says it’s chlorine

According to Gadebe, the dam’s water has been tested by the municipality’s water quality section and Rand Water. The results are reportedly compliant with in-stream water quality standards for the Kliprivier catchment. Gadebe said there is no evidence of pollution in the dam and that there is a possibility fish could be reintroduced to the dam provided that a permit is obtained from the Gauteng Directorate of Nature Conservation and their requirements are complied with.

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