Fish kills: Hundreds of substances are possible causes

Created: 08/29/2022, 15:33

Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke speaks to journalists.

© Patrick Pleul/dpa

A group of German and Polish experts is to present results on the cause of the massive fish kill in the Oder by September 30th.

This was announced by Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and her Polish counterpart Anna Moskwa on Monday in Bad Saarow.

At a German-Polish environmental council in the Brandenburg city, the death of fish was high on the agenda.

Bad Saarow - "Heat, low water levels and man-made discharges" - according to Lemke, these were the causes of the fish kill.

Lemke has not yet provided any information about the nature of the chemical discharges and referred to the expected expert report.

Several hundred chemical substances could come into question.

The combination of factors led to an algal bloom with toxic effects on fish fauna and mussels.

Since the beginning of August, tons of dead fish have been recovered from the German-Polish border river.

"Of course it's a strenuous discussion on such a difficult topic," said Lemke on the sidelines of the meeting about the research into the causes.

The Polish side was initially accused of a sluggish flow of information.

Moskva announced that both sides agreed that the species population in the Oder should be renewed.

All species that are native to the border river should return there.

In the run-up, Lemke renewed her demand for an Oder expansion stop.

Moskva had been evasive about it.

Poland had defended the expansion despite differences with Germany.

Now Lemke said that the task must be to regenerate the Oder ecosystem.

dpa