Fish farm in Chamchamal loses 14,000 fish following ‘brief power outage’

SULAYMANIYAH — A fish farm in Chamchamal suffered significant losses after a brief power outage led to the death of over 14,000 fish. This incident occurred in the village of Kani Hanjir, within the Aghjalar sub-district of Chamchamal, Sulaymaniyah Province, where a sudden drop in oxygen levels in a fish pond caused by the outage resulted in a massive fish die-off. Video footage from 964media showed the deceased fish, each weighing several kilograms and already prepared for the market.

Sabah Obeid, the owner of the fish farm, told 964media about the catastrophic impact of the power failure. “I have been nurturing these fish for over six months, working tirelessly day and night. However, within just half an hour of the outage, the situation turned disastrous,” he said. He explained that the power cut happened early in the morning, and before the backup generator could be started, the oxygen levels in the pond had severely dropped, killing the fish. Initially designed for 6,000 fish, the pond had been expanded to hold 14,000 due to modifications, exacerbating the situation.

The widespread governmental power shortages in Iraq and the Kurdistan region mean that residents and businesses heavily rely on generators. The Kurdistan Regional Government generates about 6,000 megawatts of electricity but provides only eight to 10 hours of power per day to the public.

Ranj Mohammad, a fish farming expert, addressed the unusual nature of the mass mortality when questioned by 964media. “A power outage of this duration typically doesn’t lead to mass fish deaths,” he noted, suggesting that the incident likely resulted from severe oxygen depletion, possibly exacerbated by disease. He also highlighted that the farm was overcrowded, which could have been a significant factor in the high mortality rate.

Saman Mohammed Raouf, head of the Agriculture Department in Aghjalar, mentioned that there are 300 fish farming projects in the Aghjalar sub-district, but approximately 25 of them lack official permits: “We offer guidance to fish farm owners, but unfortunately, those lacking permits often do not adhere to this advice, resulting in such catastrophic incidents.”

The fish farms in Aghjalar are strategically located along the Little Zab River, which receives its flow from Dukan Lake, providing a vital water source for these aquaculture activities.