Fish death in the Vienna Neustädter Canal: Who is the culprit?

Fish death in the Vienna Neustädter Canal: Who is the culprit?

In an alarming incident, two weeks ago, fish in the Neustädter Canal in Vienna suffocated two weeks ago, including up to 15 kilogram pike, carp as well as numerous trout and white fish. The incident occurred between Bad Vöslau and Guntramsdorf and causes financial damage of around 20,000 euros, as the Baden sports fishing association reports. The spawning season of pike, which makes it particularly sensitive, is particularly worrying, explained Andreas Schweiger, the association's chairman, during a local inspection by noe.orf.at. The exact cause of the exceptionally high mortality is still unknown. It is believed that a hard -mixed substance came into the channel over the sewage treatment plant in Bad Vöslau. Although water analyzes did not deliver clear results, the fishing supervisor assumes that it must be considerable quantities, which indicates an industrial disposal company.

reactions and investigations

The public prosecutor has ordered an autopsy of the dead fish, but Schweiger is skeptical about the success of these measures. The challenge is that colorless substances in the water can only be recognized late, often only after large fish death has occurred. There is no evidence that this incident has been deliberately brought about, but the problem of uncoordinated disposal of dangerous substances in waters should not be underestimated. Often, construction companies are guided directly into the water because this is faster, instead of complying with proper disposal paths, Schweiger continues.

This incident also emphasizes the need to maintain the ecological standards of our waters. Current programs on water ecology, as formulated by the river area authorities, target the restoration of ecologically functional rivers. This includes measures that secure the habitat for various types of water and improve the ecology of the flowing waters, as described in a report by RP.Baden-wuerttemberg.de. The urgency of such measures is reinforced by the current events, because the restoration of the fish population in the Vienna Neustädter Canal could take months to years. The restoration of the entire food supply is crucial to restore sustainable ecological balance.