environment
Fish kill: Probably highly toxic substance in the Oder
The Oder is the border river between Poland and Germany. There has been a massive fish kill in the river. photo
© Frank Hammerschmidt/dpa
Dead fish in the Oder – from Frankfurt to the Uckermark – are a mystery. First analyzes indicate a still unknown substance in the water. Possibly fed by the industry.
The Brandenburg Ministry of the Environment is continuing to investigate the massive fish kill in the Oder. More lab results are expected on Friday.
On Thursday, the State Ministry for the Environment reported that initial analyzes showed that an as yet unknown, highly toxic substance was flowing through the Oder. It remained unclear what caused this. The State Environment Agency has water samples evaluated. But dead fish are also examined.
The population is also called upon to avoid contact with the water from the Oder. Dead fish were found in several regions in Brandenburg with sections of the Oder – from the city of Frankfurt (Oder) to the district of Uckermark.
Criticism of reporting chain between Poland and Germany
The Brandenburg Environment Minister Axel Vogel (Greens) criticized the lack of information from the Polish authorities and asked for clarification. “It has to be said that the reporting chains between the Polish and German sides didn’t work in this case,” he said.
Vogel informed himself on Friday together with the district administrator of the Uckermark, Karina Dörk, the deputy head of the national park, Dr. Michael Tautenhahn, and representatives of the State Office for the Environment in the Schwedt district of Criewen – the gateway to the National Park – about the current situation.
According to the Polish Environmental Protection Agency, the death of fish in the Oder was probably caused by industrial water pollution. Potential sources of pollution are to be detected with drone overflights. The deputy head of the authority, Magda Gosk, said they were investigating what substance it was and who introduced it where into the Oder.