Environment - Dead fish are fished out of the Osterbek Canal
Employees of the Landesbetrieb Straßen, Brücken und Gewässer (LSBG) have started to remove numerous dead fish from the Ostbeck Canal. According to the Hamburg Environmental Authority, fish died due to oxygen deprivation as a result of heavy rainfall in the past week, as stated on Monday.
Large quantities of organic matter - including pollen, dust, soil, and feces - have been washed into Hamburg's waters due to heavy rain. The biological breakdown of these organic inputs in conjunction with already elevated water temperatures leads to oxygen depletion, which can be fatal for fish.
"Currently, there are no short-term measures that can prevent an oxygen depletion situation during stronger rain events and summer temperatures," the authority stated. Long- and medium-term measures such as water body naturalization or riparian strips could prevent oxygen depletion in waters. Additionally, waterfowl should not be fed.
The State enterprise responsible for roads, bridges, and waterways in Hamburg, LSBG, is actively involved in this scenario. The oxygen deprivation that caused the death of fish in Hamburg's waters is a concern for both the fish population and the local environment. To alleviate this issue in the future, the implementation of long-term measures such as water body naturalization and riparian strips is suggested, along with avoiding the feeding of waterfowl.
