South Moravia relaunches working group to save the Dyje River from mass fish deaths

In South Moravia, a working group tasked with monitoring water quality in the Dyje River has resumed its work. The decision came after the river suffered several mass fish die-offs this summer, with tonnes of dead fish pulled from its waters.

According to regional councillor Koštial, the group brings together representatives of the South Moravian Region, the state enterprise Povodí Moravy, the Academy of Sciences, the Technical University, the town of Břeclav, and the Moravian Fishing Union. “This group is meant to track the data. What’s important to stress is that, for the first time, we have measurable data to work from,” Koštial said.

What the group will do

Experts will analyse the collected data in the autumn. Besides ongoing monitoring, the group will update crisis response plans, prepare a professional study — including an assessment of options for restoring the river’s ecosystem — and review restocking plans, as well as seek subsidies to modernise wastewater treatment along the Dyje’s tributaries.

Mass fish deaths this summer

According to Povodí Moravy, the Dyje experienced several major fish die-offs this summer. In the first half of July, around three tonnes of fish died from oxygen depletion in the river below the Nové Mlýny reservoir, while up to six tonnes perished in the Zámecká Dyje and Stará Dyje branches. Similar incidents were recorded elsewhere in the region: in June in the Vojkovický Canal near Rajhrad outside Brno, and in July in the Olšava River in Kunovice and the Haná River in Vrchoslavice.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by ekolist.cz