Dead fish fill Greek waterways after extreme weather triggers mass die-offs

More than 100 tonnes of dead fish have accumulated in and around the port of Volos in central Greece, after mass die-offs caused by extreme weather conditions.

The dead freshwater fish filled the bay 320 kilometers north of Athens, as well as nearby rivers.

According to the Volos Chamber of Commerce, the marine mortality has affected local businesses along the coast, with commercial activity down by 80 percent in the past three days.

Regional authorities have mapped out fishing vessels that, along with earth-moving equipment, will scoop the dead fish from the sea and load them onto trucks bound for the incinerator.

The fish came from Lake Karla in central Greece, a body of water that was drained in the early 1960s and restored in 2018 to combat the effects of drought.

“There are millions of dead fish from Lake Karla to 20 kilometres to the east,” Anna Maria Papadimitriou, the deputy governor of the Central Thessaly region, told state television.

“At the moment, efforts are underway to clean up the millions of dead fish that have washed up along the coasts and riverbanks… a job that involves several contractors.”

In 2023, water levels rose abruptly during a deadly storm that caused widespread flooding in central Greece, but have since fallen due to low rainfall and successive summer heat waves.

The mayor of Volos slammed the regional government, accusing it of acting too slowly, while the city’s Chamber of Commerce said it would take legal action to seek compensation following the severe drop in commercial activity.

“Businesses along the coast, particularly in the hospitality industry, are now suspending their activities,” the Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

“A strong stench along the coast is repulsive to both residents and visitors and is a serious blow to tourism in Volos.”

AP