The mass die-off of hundreds of fish, which sparked a political row between Poland and Germany, has been blamed on poisonous algae.
Nearly 250 tonnes of useless fish have been recovered in August from the Oder river, which runs throughout the two nations.
There have been accusations {that a} chemical spill had led to the die-off, with Poland and Germany denying any accountability.
But on Thursday, Polish government stated that poisonous algae — worsened by way of top summer time temperatures and occasional water ranges — was once at the back of the incident.
Various components “led us to conclude that the fish deaths were probably caused by the toxic effects of an algal bloom”, stated Agnieszka Kolada from the Polish Institute of Environmental Protection.
The micro-algae at factor — referred to as golden algae — is located in estuaries, basically close to the ocean, and “had until now never been detected in Poland”, she instructed journalists.
She added that the water high quality of the Oder has been deficient “for years”.
Poland is because of unlock a complete government-commissioned medical record at the die-off on Friday.
“The fish deaths were neither caused by heavy metals, nor pesticides, nor petroleum substances,” in keeping with a presentation at the record.
The mass die-off was once first detected by way of locals residing alongside the 840km waterway, who have been then warned to not swim within the river or to the touch it.
The stench across the waters was once so unhealthy that some employees deployed to take away the fish vomited throughout their paintings, locals instructed Reuters.
In August, Poland’s surroundings minister accused Germany of spreading “fake news” concerning the crisis after it reported on top pesticide ranges within the waterway.
“In Poland, the substance [pesticide] is tested and detected below the threshold with no effect on fish or other species and no link to die-offs,” Anna Moskwa wrote on Twitter.
Piotr Nieznanski, conservation coverage director at WWF Poland, had additionally speculated {that a} poisonous chemical was once launched into the water by way of business,
