Vienna On Friday, the suspicion of what could have caused the death of fish in the Polish-German border river Oder was confirmed. Polish scientists have identified a species of algae with the scientific name Prymnesium parvum – colloquially also known as “golden algae” – as a possible cause of the disaster. This was announced by Poland’s Environment Minister Anna Moskw via Twitter.
German researchers from the Berlin Leibniz Institute for Aquatic Ecology had already seen a possible cause of the disaster in the algae species, which probably damaged the river’s ecosystem for years to come. On Friday afternoon, the researchers became more specific: the institute wrote that it was currently possible to prove the mass development of a potentially toxic alga. However, the type and concentration of any toxins would only be known in a few days.
The alga is an invasive species and thrives particularly well in highly saline water. Its name is somewhat unspecific, since the name “golden alga” can also be used to designate numerous other species that differ greatly from the species that has now been found. The poison of the type discovered in the Oder kills fish and mussels, Minister Moskva writes on Twitter. Recently there was talk of volunteers collecting more than 100 tons of dead fish on the Oder.
In fact, an unnaturally high salt content has been measured in the Oder for two weeks. The question, however, is why this phenomenon has occurred just now. More or less large quantities of salt are constantly flowing into the Oder. Jan Köhler from the Leibniz Institute said it was probably not diluted as much as in normal times recently because of the low water level.
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However, scientists also suspect that additional salt could have entered the Oder from outside – but it is unclear where from.
No clear cause of fish kills identified to date
For at least a week, politicians and scientists have expressed differing views as to what might have caused the disaster. For the Polish Ministry of the Environment, three assumptions had been in the foreground.
The first is that toxins from industrial production got into the river. Secondly, there is the thesis that the low water level has led to a high concentration of harmful pollution. Thirdly, the Polish Ministry generally speaks of industrial waste. On the other hand, Minister Moskwa now rules out the possibility that mercury caused the fish kill. According to the minister, this initial suspicion can be ruled out after toxicological tests.
At the same time, apparently not much can be done about the disaster at the moment. Iwona Jasser from the University of Warsaw said in various media reports that one would have to be patient until a stronger flow of water diluted the poison.
Meanwhile, the government of the Polish province of West Pomerania has extended the ban on using water from the Oder until August 25. It is forbidden to swim in the river; the water may not be used for watering animals or watering plants.
The German authorities accuse the Polish side of not providing information about the fish kill in good time.
(Photo: dpa)
The environmental disaster burdens the already tense relationship between Germany and Poland. The first dead fish were reportedly found at the end of July near the Polish town of Olawa in Lower Silesia.
German politicians in particular, who accuse neighboring Poland of not having informed about the situation in good time, are alienated. “The question of German-Polish cooperation obviously didn’t work at this point,” said Germany’s Environment Minister Steffi Lemke a week ago. She had agreed with Moscow that the results of the experts would be evaluated together.
However, the environmental disaster is also causing unrest in Poland. Parliamentary elections will be held in the country in 14 months. The government is already under a lot of pressure because the economic outlook has recently deteriorated significantly. The last thing she needs right now is an even bigger mountain of problems.
Polish Prime Minister responds to Oder disaster with harsh words
In any case, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki reacted to the catastrophe with harsh words. The culprits of this ecological crime will be found and punished as severely as possible, he wrote on Facebook. The government has set aside PLN 1 million (EUR 209,000) to reward those who provide information to the administration about the causes of the disaster. At the same time, the government fired the heads of the Polish water authorities and the environmental authority.
In Poland, this is once again fueling doubts about the abilities of the administration. At the beginning of the year, an announced tax reform resulted in chaos. Opposition politicians repeatedly criticize that the ruling party PiS has accommodated too many sympathizers and members in the offices who are not up to their task. The water authority is also not equipped with sufficient money.
As long as the cause of the disaster has not been clarified, the question of how high the financial damage is and who will ultimately pay for it remains unanswered. Fishermen’s unions have said they will consider lawsuits The Polish Anglers’ Union tweeted that the disaster was caused by a “lack of government competence, commitment and capacity to act”.
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