Raising concerns
Low water levels and rising temperatures cause fish deaths in Hawizeh Marsh
MAYSAN – The Maysan Agriculture Department announced Thursday that the recent fish deaths in the Hawizeh Marsh are primarily due to low water levels, decreased dissolved oxygen, increased salinity, and rising temperatures.
These environmental conditions have led to a rapid die-off of fish, particularly fingerlings released by the department as part of its annual fishery development program.
Maysan’s Agriculture Director, Majid Al-Saadi, told the Iraqi News Agency that the fish deaths occurred in the Khayr area, specifically in the fourth channel branching from the river.
“The majority of the affected fish were fingerlings recently released to support the stability and livelihood of marshland residents,” Al-Saadi said.
In response to the situation, the Water Resources Department released one cubic meter per second of water to mitigate the fish deaths. Al-Saadi explained that the root causes include low water levels reaching the marsh, which have led to reduced dissolved oxygen, increased salinity, and higher temperatures, all contributing to the rapid decline in fish numbers.
Al-Saadi urged the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure a stable water allocation for the marshlands, maintaining the minimum levels necessary for fish survival and preventing migration and desertification in the area.
In late July, a mass fish die-off occurred in the Al-Ezz River within Project 4, which supplies water to the Al-Sahyin Marsh, west of Maysan. Investigations determined that the die-off was not due to intentional poisoning or pesticide use but was caused by reduced water releases that dried up the marshes, forcing the fish into the river. In the river, they encountered high salt and acid levels, along with low oxygen, leading to the death of thousands of fish.
The repeated incidents in Maysan’s marshes underscore the urgent need for authorities to intervene in addressing the ongoing water crisis and its impact on the local fishing community.
Environmental group sounds alarm about threats to southern marshes
