Status: 08/29/2022 4:25 p.m
Why did so many fish die in the German-Polish border river Oder? A group of experts from both countries should find out by the end of September – both governments agreed on this at a meeting.
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 after a top-level German-Polish meeting in Bad Saarow on the Oder fish kill.
According to Lemke, heat, low water levels and “man-made discharges” were the causes of the deaths. She did not provide any information on the nature of the chemical discharges. She 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 and mussels.
Steffi Lemke (left) and her colleague Moskwa want to renew the species population of the Oder.
Image: dpa
Tons of dead fish
Since the beginning of August, tons of dead fish have been recovered from the German-Polish border river. The Polish side was initially accused of a tough information policy. 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.