Read more 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