Scientists: More evidence of algae poison as a reason for fish deaths

scientist
More evidence of algae poison as a reason for fish deaths

In the mystery of the massive death of fish in the Oder, experts believe there is increasing evidence that the animals died from a poison produced by algae. On Monday, the federal government rejected Polish accusations that Germany was spreading “fake news” about the possible causes of the environmental disaster. The government in Warsaw accused the German side of not erecting enough oil barriers to catch the dead fish.

Clear indication of algae

Experts from the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin see clear indications that a toxic alga is to blame for the death of the fish. The strong growth of the algae, which actually thrives in brackish water, is in turn due to salt input into the river, said researcher Tobias Goldhammer of the German Press Agency. “That is our currently most likely hypothesis.” Where the salt comes from is unclear for the time being. Other factors also likely played a role, including low water and increased water temperature, Goldhammer said.

Last week, the Berlin institute pointed out the strong growth of the algae species Prymnesium parvum, which can form a poison that is deadly for fish. At the weekend, the institute added that this poison had actually been detected in the water of the Oder. In addition, satellite data would have shown a massive bloom of algae in the Oder. Polish scientists also detected Prymnesium parvum in water samples.

Where does the salt come from?

A spokeswoman for the Brandenburg Ministry of the Environment said that the Leibniz Institute’s references to the alga’s poison were plausible. However, it is important to further investigate the cause of the salt input. It is still assumed that several causes could be responsible for the fish kills.

The federal government rejected Polish accusations that Germany was spreading false news. “We regret that this assessment came from Poland,” said a spokesman for the Federal Environment Ministry. The search for the causes of the fish kill is still not complete.

“Fake News” allegations from Poland

Poland’s Environment Minister Anna Moskwa wrote on Twitter on Saturday evening: “Warning, another fake news is being spread in Germany!!! Pesticides and herbicides. In Poland, the substance was tested and found to be below the limit of quantification, i.e. without any effects on fish or other animals, and unrelated to fish kills.”

The spokesman for the Federal Ministry for the Environment said: “No side and at no time in Germany claimed that the pesticides alone were the cause of the fish die-off. It is regrettable that the Polish Ministry of the Environment now understood the corresponding laboratory results as an assignment of blame.”

German-Polish expert group meets

The German-Polish expert group set up a week ago met for the first time on Monday and exchanged laboratory values ​​and test results. It is made up of experts from the federal government and the federal states concerned, as well as from the Polish authorities at national and regional level. The ministry spokesman had previously expressed the hope that a “possible disagreement” would be cleared up when the data were discussed in the working group.

However, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek followed up with further allegations. The German side had only erected three oil barriers in the Oder to catch the dead fish, while Poland had 29, the deputy foreign minister criticized on the public broadcaster Polskie Radio.

dpa