Polish authorities: Golden algae probably the cause of fish deaths in the Oder
Toxic golden algae are likely the cause of why many dead fish were found in the Oder river near the city of Glogow in the past week, according to statements from Polish authorities to the PAP news agency. The water samples showed a high prevalence of golden algae, the spokesperson for the Niederschlesien district administration said. Currently, the values are significantly better, there are no reports of dead fish.
In the past week, over 600 kilograms of dead fish were removed from the Oder river near Glogow within three days. In Brandenburg, authorities also discovered dead fish in the German-Polish border river in the past week. The situation has reportedly eased there as well, according to the Markisch-Oderland district.
In the summer of 2022, there was a mass fish die-off in the Oder. High salt content, low water levels, high temperatures, and the toxic effect of a golden alga bloom were the main causes of the environmental disaster from an expert's perspective.
- The authorities in Brandenburg, Germany, also found dead fish in the Oder river, as they did in Poland's Glogow, similarly to the past week's incident.
- The laboratory tests on the water samples from the Oder river near Glogow revealed a high concentration of golden algae, which is potentially the reason for the mass death of fish.
- Despite the improved values currently, the authorities in Poland's Niederschlesien district are still investigating the cause of the massive fish deaths in the summer of 2022, which they believe could involve golden algae, high salt content, low water levels, and high temperatures.
- Regrettably, over the past week, the Oder river near Glogow has once again witnessed the unfortunate death of numerous fish, prompting calls for increased monitoring and potential preventive measures from authorities on both sides of the German-Polish border.
