People look at the dead fish on the banks of the Oder river, as water has been contaminated and is causing the mass extinction of fish in the river, in Bielinek, Poland, August, 11, 2022. Cezary Aszkiełowicz/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS
Poland is seeking help from abroad to discover the source of toxic contamination in the Oder River following a fish die-off that environmental groups have described as the country’s biggest environmental disaster in years.
The government in Warsaw sent water samples to labs in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the UK, Climate Minister Anna Moskwa said on Twitter.
Over the weekend, Polish emergency services pulled 80 tons of dead fish from the river -- Poland’s second longest -- and banned swimming and the use of boats.
The contamination sparked a diplomatic tiff with Germany, where local officials accused Poland of ignoring the disaster when it began more than two weeks ago.
Authorities in Germany’s Brandenburg region found traces of mercury in the water -- although not enough to trigger a massive fish die-off-- as well as high salinity and chlorophyll, along with elevated temperatures and unusual alkaline levels. Polish tests show no mercury so far.
European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said on Twitter that he’d spoken with Poland’s climate minister and offered support for the investigation. A spokesman for the European Commission said Tuesday that the bloc doesn’t have "any definitive reason” for the death of the fish and is ready to assist, depending on the needs of Poland and Germany.
The Oder runs from the Czech Republic to the border between Poland and Germany before flowing into the Baltic Sea via Szczecin Lagoon. Poland’s government has offered a 1-million zloty ($220,200) reward to anyone helping identify those responsible. Authorities also plan to increase penalties for people who cause environmental damage.
