Status: 02.10.2023, 04:45 a.m.
By: Matthias Matz
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In the morning, the police monitor the bathing ban at Alatsee. © private
The Alatsee near Füssen is now closed to humans. In the water, which is popular with locals and guests, the highly contagious crayfish plague has broken out.
Feet- The crayfish plague has apparently broken out in the Alatsee. This was announced by Mayor Maximilian Eichstetter (CSU) on Thursday afternoon, citing the Kempten Water Management Office. In order to prevent the spread of the fungal disease, all activities in and on the water are prohibited with immediate effect.
The Alatsee is already largely cordoned off. Compliance with the bathing ban is controlled by the Füssen police. © private
The crayfish plague is a deadly fungal disease of crustaceans. "We assume with almost certainty that the noble crayfish population at Alatsee is currently being killed by the crayfish plague," says Mayor Eichstetter.
Experts assume that the pathogen was introduced into Europe through the introduction of American crayfish species. However, the fungus is harmless to humans.
"We are powerless against this acute infection situation, but measures should now be taken as quickly as possible to prevent the further spread of the crayfish plague," said the head of the town hall.
The Alatsee as well as the adjoining water system of the Faulenbach with Obersee and Mittersee are therefore closed to the general public in order to prevent transmission of the crayfish plague pathogens.
Bathing is prohibited
This prohibits bathing, boating, SUP driving, fishing and bathing dogs in the water. This order is initially valid for the next ten to 14 days.
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The closure is to be communicated to the general public by means of suitable signage plus official announcement.
The reason for the crackdown is the high transmissibility of the fungus. According to Eichstetter, the spores of the crayfish plague are able to survive for up to 14 days in a humid environment. Even then, they are still infectious.
In this way, the crayfish plague could be carried relatively easily by humans into neighboring waters with a noble crayfish population, which would then also be wiped out, explains the mayor.
The nearby Weißensee is particularly endangered here, but other bodies of water in the area are also home to crayfish populations.
The dead crayfish must be collected regularly in the shore area and fed without contamination for thermal waste disposal or protein and fat utilization. Care should be taken to ensure that all equipment is disinfected or completely dried before contact with other bodies of water or rainwater removal - up to five days, depending on the material.
