Authorities recommend actions as gold algae causes fish deaths in the Oder.

Surroundings - Authorities recommend actions as gold algae causes fish deaths in the Oder.

The Environment Ministry in Brandenburg will determine what actions should be taken following the discovery of deceased fish and the spread of harmful golden algae in the Oder. On Wednesday, the Environment Department will discuss potential next steps based on recent measurements, as announced by the Brandenburg State Environment Agency.

Two years after the environmental tragedy on the Oder, officials are reacting to alarms set off by the presence of this algae: Dead fish have been found at this German-Polish border river. The toxic golden alga that was responsible for a significant fish die-off in the summer of 2022 has expanded significantly. At Frankfurt (Oder)'s winter harbor, numerous dead fish—including pike and pikeperch up to 60cm long—were spotted amid water lilies on Tuesday.

The Brandenburg State Environment Agency reported on Tuesday evening that the amount of golden alga, Prymnesium parvum, had grown exponentially over the course of several days. A high salt concentration, low water levels, high temperatures, and the toxin produced by this alga are thought to have led to the mass fish kill in the Oder in August 2022.

In the Brandenburg portion of the Oder, data on water quality is gathered and assessed at automated monitoring stations. The authorities in Poland also aim to prevent the spread of golden alga.

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1. The Environment Ministry in Brandenburg is concerned about the impact of the golden algae on local animal populations, particularly fish, in the Oder.
2. BMU, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, has been closely monitoring the situation and may provide additional resources to combat the spread of the harmful algae.
3. Due to the death of fish and the proliferation of golden algae in the Oder, several environmental organizations in Frankfurt (Oder) have expressed concern for other aquatic animals living in the area.
4. The Golden Algae Symposium at the BMU in Berlin discussed potential solutions and strategies to address the ongoing issue of golden algae in German waterways, including the Oder River.

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