Minister for Climate and Environment Anna Moskwa has announced that the results of research by experts from the Inland Fisheries Institute have indicated the presence of golden algae in the Odra water. Their bloom may cause the appearance of toxins that kill fish. “We are still looking for additional factors, but we are ruling out any illegal discharges or accidents”, said Minister Moskwa.

According to the climate ministry, golden algae are a rare species, their bloom can cause the appearance of toxins that kill fish and mussels. However, they are not harmful to humans. Experts are now conducting further research.

“We will be testing the fish for the presence of these toxins. As to the fact that these algae are there, we have no doubts”, Minister Moskwa stressed in an interview.

Research is also being conducted to determine what could have led to such an intense bloom of golden algae. Among the contributing factors are drought, low water levels and meteorological conditions. The investigation into the ecological disaster on the Odra is being conducted by the public prosecutor’s office.

According to the president of WWF Poland, Mirosław Proppe, the appearance of golden algae in the Oder’s waters means that the water is salinated.

“Golden algae thrive in water coming from brine reservoirs. Such water comes from reservoirs where post-mining brine or after industrial processes are deposited.”

Environmental services and government administration are investigating three hypotheses of an environmental disaster on the Odra including poisoning by a toxic substance, the influence of natural conditions – including low water levels – and the discharge of large amounts of post-industrial water into the river.

The head of the Ministry of Climate and Environment added that a plan for restoring the Oder is being developed. The ministry has set up a team which is preparing a restoration plan. It will be successively implemented as soon as the removal of the dead fish is completed.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński