Fish deaths in the Oder: Is swimming in the Baltic Sea becoming dangerous? 

Created: 08/17/2022, 11:24 am

By: Franziska Kaindl

Massive fish are currently dying in the Oder, the reason is still unclear.

But the river flows into the Baltic Sea - is swimming here now a danger?

Authorities and experts have been dealing with the cause of the mass deaths of fish in the Oder for days.

Neither toxic substances nor pesticides seem to be responsible.

While the search for answers continues, the contaminated water masses are moving more and more northwards: according to the Polish authorities, dead fish have already been found in canals connected to the Oder south of the port city of Szczecin, as reported by the German Press Agency.

The river then flows into the Szczecin Lagoon, through which the border between Poland and Germany runs, and then into the Baltic Sea.

Thousands of vacationers are currently spending their days off here.

The beach on the Szczecin Lagoon is well attended despite the warnings about water pollution in the Oder.

© Jens Büttner/dpa

Fish deaths in the Oder: warning for several bathing areas in the Szczecin Lagoon

Everything is done to ensure that no dead fish arrive in the Szczecin Lagoon, said the Environment Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Till Backhaus (SPD), according to dpa.

According to the current status, no dead fish has been sighted, but it seems only a matter of time.

"The situation is very worrying," said Health Minister Stefanie Drese on Monday afternoon.

"We are currently checking all water samples meticulously for contamination and are in close contact with the local authorities and the Ministry of the Environment." At the moment, health risks from contact with the water cannot be ruled out.

The ministry therefore recommends that people and animals should refrain from bathing in the designated areas.

A warning currently applies to the following bathing areas:

• Szczecin Lagoon, Altwarp village

• Szczecin Lagoon, Altwarp settlement

• Szczecin Lagoon, Bellin (swimming is strictly prohibited, regardless of current events)

• Szczecin Lagoon, Grambin

• Szczecin Lagoon, Mönkebude

• Szczecin Lagoon, Ueckermünde

• Szczecin Lagoon, Vogelsang

• Neuwarper See, Rieth

A warning about water pollution in the Oder hangs on the bathing beach at the Szczecin Lagoon.

© Jens Büttner/dpa

The warnings are not about a bathing ban, as the spokeswoman for the city of Ueckermünde explains to the online portal Reisereporter.

Bathers would have to decide for themselves whether they want to go swimming.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment in Schwerin has warned against angling, fishing and water withdrawal.

At the bathing areas there are notices advising bathers to thoroughly clean affected body parts after contact with the water.

Pets and farm animals should not drink from or bathe in the water.

So far there have been no warnings for the beaches on Usedom, as René Bergmann, senior administrative officer at the Usedom-Süd office, confirmed to the online travel reporter portal.

The Vorpommern-Greifswald district also agreed to this.

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What is the cause of fish kills?

According to dpa, the Polish authorities are considering three hypotheses: The first is that a toxic substance could have entered the water, which either came from an industrial company based on the Oder or was introduced illegally.

The second assumption is that the high temperatures, low water levels and an increased concentration of pollutants could be the cause.

Last but not least, experts are also considering discharging a large volume of chlorinated water.