Global spotlight on the tiny Tradouw redfin

​The Tradouw redfin – a small freshwater fish found only in the Grootvadersbosch region and teetering on the brink of extinction – has just earned global recognition. This fynbos fish is the focus of an award-winning Grootvadersbosch Conservancy project, named one of just nine winners worldwide in the 2025 Reverse the Red Accelerator Awards.

The Accelerator Awards are an initiative of Reverse the Red, a global coalition working to help countries and partners reverse the negative trends reflected in the IUCN Red List. ​
 

The programme is guided by leading scientists and conservation advocates, including the IUCN Species Survival Commission, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Zoological Society of London.
 
The winners were announced at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, 11 October. Grootvadersbosch Conservancy General Manager Aileen Anderson was there to accept the award.

A species facing multiple pressures
 
“Winning this prize is a huge honour,” says Anderson. “We were up against major environmental organisations from across the globe, all doing incredible work to protect their own threatened species. This award is not only a testament to the work of the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy, but also a reminder of the massive threats facing this freshwater fish.”
 
The Tradouw redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli) occurs only in the Huis River, which runs through the town of Barrydale. Here it faces multiple pressures: invasive alien fish that prey on and outcompete it, invasive alien plants that degrade the riverbanks and destroy habitat, and ongoing water abstraction in a system already vulnerable to drought.
 
The Huis River is also vital for local people – providing water for the town of Barrydale and supporting nearby farming operations. Ensuring its health is therefore crucial both for people and for the redfin.

​Restoring a river
 
To address these threats, the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy launched a project to protect the Tradouw redfin. This included clearing invasive alien plants along a 7km stretch of the river and rehabilitating the banks with indigenous plants sourced from the local area, including the  Conservancy’s nursery. The project not only improved habitat for indigenous fish but also created employment for previously unemployed community members.
 
To reduce water pressure on the system, the Conservancy is working with the Barrydale community and the local municipality to improve the water efficiency of the system, helping reduce dependence on the river during dry spells. Awareness campaigns – including signage, open days and workshops – helped residents understand the importance of the Huis River’s health and the plight of its unique species. The current and planned activities are integrated into a Species Action Plan developed in conjunction with government partners. This will ensure ongoing support for the collective action needed to protect the species and sustain actions in the longer term.
 
“Our goal was to improve the overall health and quality of the Huis River system,” says Anderson, “and to encourage everyone who depends on the river to use it with care and understanding. At the same time we’re looking to establish additional safe refuges for the redfin.”

​New funding support
 
By winning the Accelerator Award, the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy receives funding support for their translocation project, where they are looking for safe refuges to expand the habitat of the fish. This could include refuges upstream of their current habitat or dams that are free of invasive fish. The translocation plans will be implemented in conjunction with further improving the existing habitat of the redfins. Aside from this, the award also provides access to training and global conservation networks, and storytelling assistance to further their efforts. To qualify for the awards, the Conservancy had to make a formal pledge to continue to protect the Tradouw redfin – and ensure that its status does not further decline.
 
Aileen, our general manager, says, “This award shines an international light on one of South Africa’s smallest and most threatened species – showing how one species can hold an entire ecosystem together, and can even help that ecosystem recover.”