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Read more Freshwater science takes centre stage at the 2026 SASAqS Conference
Western Cape - Nature Conservation BoardRef: https://www.capenature.co.za/news/2026/freshwater-science-takes-centre-stage-at-the-2026-sasaqs-conference
Official source
Source domain: capenature.co.za
Collected on 3 August 2026
Always confirm details on the official source before acting.
What this means
This is a news/media article dated 3 August 2026 about the 2026 SASAqS (Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists) Conference. It describes SASAqS as a learned society focused on research, management and conservation of inland waters, and notes that the 2026 conference was held in Port Alfred. The article highlights a keynote by Prof Paul Skelton, a session on the REFRESH project (a Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme funded project led by SAIAB and SANBI), and awards given at the conference including student presentation prizes and SASAqS medals (gold medal recipients: Prof Janine Adams and Prof Nico Smit).
Facts
Places
Western Cape, North West
Reference
https://www.capenature.co.za/news/2026/freshwater-science-takes-centre-stage-at-the-2026-sasaqs-conference
Key Takeaways
- SASAqS 2026 conference news article
- Date: 3 Aug 2026
- Conference location: Port Alfred
- Keynote: Prof Paul Skelton (freshwater fish taxonomy; author of Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa)
- REFRESH project session: FBIP-funded; aims include collecting foundational biodiversity data for seven freshwater taxa groups, georeferencing/digitising uncatalogued records, and building capacity for biodiversity inventories and extinction-risk assessment
- REFRESH project leaders: SAIAB and SANBI
- CapeNature ecologist Dr Martine Jordaan role: Western Cape component; presented on evaluating Protected Areas for indigenous freshwater fish protection
- Conference concluded with formal function awarding student prizes for best presentations
- SASAqS medals: gold recipients Prof Janine Adams (Nelson Mandela University) and Prof Nico Smit (North West University)
- Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAqS)
- Limnological Society of South Africa
- Prof Paul Skelton
- REFRESH project
- Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP)
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
- South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
- CapeNature
- Dr Martine Jordaan
- Nelson Mandela University
- North West University
- Prof Janine Adams
- Prof Nico Smit
Dates
Closing Date
3 August 2026