Over 160 Tons of Dead Fish Removed from Pagasitikos Gulf

In the past ten days, the Greek region of Thessaly has faced an environmental disaster, with over 160 tons of dead fish being removed from the waters of the Pagasitikos Gulf and its surrounding areas, including the port of Volos and the Xiria River. This mass die-off is inextricably linked to questions about the causes and responsibility for the dramatic changes in the local ecosystem.

Causes of the Disaster

Scientists point to a significant factor influencing the current hydrological situation in Thessaly, which is related to the historic draining of Lake Karla in 1962 as part of efforts to combat malaria. Changes in hydrological conditions have impacted the scale of last year’s floods in the northern part of the region. The flood, caused in part by the Mediterranean cyclone Daniel, tripled the size of the lake. At that time, about 20,000 hectares of plains were flooded, and various species of freshwater fish were simply washed into the sea by the rivers.

This summary of the situation was provided by Dimitris Klaudatos, a professor of agriculture and environmental sciences at the University of Thessaly. Since then, the water level in the lake has drastically dropped, forcing freshwater fish to migrate to the port of Volos, from where they flow into the Pagasitikos Gulf and the Aegean Sea, where they cannot survive due to the salinity of the waters. Experts also note that no preventive measures, such as net barriers, were placed at the river’s mouth, which could have prevented the fish from entering the port.

The Scale of the Dead Fish Phenomenon

The appearance of dead fish in the Pagasitikos Gulf has been observed since the beginning of the summer, but it has significantly intensified over the past ten days. According to the LifO service, over 160 tons of dead fish have already been removed from the waters of the Gulf and its surrounding areas, including the port of Volos and the Xiria River, with as much as 95 tons coming from the areas around the city of Volos alone. Work on a new barrier is underway in Xiria. Damage to the existing one would likely have caused millions of dead fish to flow into the port. Drone footage reveals the horrifying scale of the phenomenon and confirms a serious threat to the local ecosystem.

Government Response

In response to the severe pollution, Volos Mayor Achilleas Beos expressed outrage at the lack of an adequate response from the government. During a press conference, he stated that residents are suffering from the pervasive stench of decaying fish, which negatively affects their quality of life and threatens the local ecosystem. Beos emphasized that the responsibility for the neglect lies with the government, not the local administration, which was unable to prevent or mitigate the disaster’s effects. He called on central authorities to take immediate action to protect the ecosystem. The Ministry of Environment has yet to issue a statement on the matter, but the prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation.

Investigation into the Environmental Disaster

Georgia Adeilini, the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, has ordered an urgent investigation to determine the causes and those responsible for the environmental disaster. The prosecution will examine the circumstances surrounding the opening of the gates leading to the tunnel that allows water to flow from the Larissa-Karla plain into the Pagasitikos Gulf, as well as identify who made the decision to flood the area. The investigation will also seek to determine whether the decision to close the sluice was made in time to prevent further contamination of the gulf.

Consequences for the Local Community

The environmental disaster in Volos has not only serious environmental consequences but also economic and social ones. The fishing industry, which is one of the key sectors of the local economy, has been severely threatened, and the closure of beaches in the area is increasing residents’ concerns about the quality of drinking water and their health.

Beaches in the Magnesia region, including popular swimming spots like Sutrali Agrias, Anavros, and Alikes, have been closed indefinitely due to the presence of dead fish and the stench. This crisis will undoubtedly affect local tourism. Hotel and restaurant owners fear that tourists will not be interested in their services, which could lead to the collapse of this crucial industry for the region.