Germany mentioned Friday that mass fish deaths within the Oder River had been a "man-made environmental catastrophe," blaming poisonous algae development sparked by the introduction of salt into the waters.
Presenting a report into the catastrophe that noticed not less than 300 tons of useless fish pulled from the river in Germany and Poland this summer season, the German surroundings ministry mentioned the almost definitely trigger was "a sudden improve in salinity."
The "launched salt" led to "huge proliferation of a brackish water algae that's poisonous to fish," it mentioned.
Nonetheless, "on account of a scarcity of obtainable data, the specialists needed to depart open what brought on the unnaturally excessive salt content material," it added.
German Setting Minister Steffi Lemke mentioned it was clear that "human exercise" was in charge.
Polish authorities had on Thursday launched a separate report that additionally blamed poisonous algae for the fish deaths. Greater than 500 firefighters took half within the efforts to wash up the mess on the Polish facet of the river this summer season.
However the Polish report mentioned the catastrophe had almost definitely been brought on by poor water high quality because of excessive temperatures and really low water ranges over the summer season.
Poland and Germany have lengthy been at odds over the catastrophe.
Berlin initially accused Warsaw of failing to speak the issue, whereas Poland slammed Germany for spreading "pretend information" concerning the discovery of herbicides and pesticides within the water.
A report in Germany's Der Spiegel journal on Friday accused Polish authorities of failing to cooperate with their German counterparts to research the fish deaths.
Polish authorities grew to become "increasingly more reserved, in some circumstances nearly secretive", Lilian Busse, the top of the investigation, was cited as saying.
The Spiegel report mentioned Greenpeace investigations had proven excessive salt ranges at a copper mine within the metropolis of Glogow could have contributed to the catastrophe.
"It's apparent to me that the Polish authorities needs to cowl up the causes of the fish kill within the Oder," Ralph Lenkert, environmental coverage spokesman for the far-left Die Linke celebration, informed the journal.
In August, Sascha Maier, a water coverage officer on the BUND environmental group, informed CBS Information that it was not solely fish affected. Many different animals, together with mussels and small vertebrates in and across the river have additionally suffered, Maier mentioned.
The ecosystem was already beneath nice stress this summer season, Maier informed CBS Information, because of excessive warmth and hardly any rainfall. These situations very probably exacerbated the issue, not less than, as a result of the decrease water quantity means a better focus of any poisonous substances current.
"Due to the low water, now we have a heat Oder River," he mentioned. That alone could cause vital bodily stress for a lot of fish species, and "if air pollution is then added, they're much less resistant."
Anna Noryskiewicz contributed to this report.