More than 100 tons of deceased fish have been gathered in and around the harbor of Volos in central Greece after a significant mass die-off connected to extreme weather changes, authorities revealed on Thursday.
The deceased freshwater fish have inundated the bay located 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Athens, as well as nearby rivers. The water levels were raised by floods in 2023, succeeded by several months of intense drought.
This mass die-off has severely impacted local businesses along the coastline, leading to an 80% decline in commercial activities over the past three days, as stated by Volos’ Chamber of Commerce.
Local authorities have chartered fishing trawlers and earthmovers to remove the deceased fish from the sea and transport them via trucks to an incinerator.
The fish originated from Lake Karla in central Greece, a water body that had been drained in the early 1960s and restored in 2018 to combat drought effects.
Anna Maria Papadimitriou, the deputy regional governor of central Thessaly, pointed out, “There are millions of deceased fish from Lake Karla spreading 20 kilometers (12 miles) eastward.” She emphasized the ongoing extensive cleanup effort involving multiple contractors.
The rise in water levels during a severe storm in fall 2023 caused extensive flooding in central Greece, which subsequently receded due to low rainfall and consecutive summer heatwaves.
The mayor of Volos criticized the regional authority for slow action, while the city’s Chamber of Commerce announced plans to pursue legal action seeking compensation for the drastic decline in commercial activities.
In a statement, the chamber highlighted the suspension of operations in businesses along the coastline, particularly in the catering sector, due to the strong foul odor emanating from the seafront. The unpleasant smell is deterring residents and visitors, dealing a significant blow to tourism in Volos.
