Iraq dismantles hundreds of illegal fish ponds

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources announced Friday that nearly 90% of unauthorized fish ponds in Baghdad’s Radwaniyah area have been dismantled, as part of a nationwide crackdown aimed at preserving scarce water supplies and ensuring fair distribution across governorates.

“The number of unauthorized ponds in the Radwaniyah sector reached 400, most of which have now been removed,” said Taha Al-Muhayawi, director of the Between the Rivers Water Resources Directorate. “Work is ongoing to clear the remaining ponds and to take legal action against violators.”

The operation, conducted in coordination with local security forces, involved backfilling hundreds of ponds drawing illegally from irrigation networks. Officials said the effort aligns with a broader strategy to combat water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and upstream dam projects.

“The goal is to guarantee fair water distribution for all users, including southern governorates and drinking water facilities,” Al-Muhayawi said. The ministry added that illegal fish ponds, often exposed to direct sunlight, contribute to significant water loss and have disrupted supplies intended for southern Iraq.

In Karbala, officials launched a similar campaign Saturday in the Hur district, targeting unauthorized diversions along the DC5 canal. “Field teams, in cooperation with local officials and security forces, have begun blocking unauthorized water outlets and backfilling illegal stream diversions,” the ministry said. The goal is to ensure reliable water delivery to treatment plants while reducing waste.

The stepped-up enforcement follows clashes Thursday in Basra’s Thaghar subdistrict, where fish pond owners attacked a police unit attempting to dismantle six unauthorized ponds.

“During the removal of six illegal ponds, their owners confronted the executing force, burned tires, and pelted security personnel with stones,” a security source told 964media. Brig. Gen. Alaa Rashid, commander of the Federal Police’s 12th Brigade, and three officers were injured in the incident. Several arrests were made, and authorities vowed to continue the operation. “The force is determined to carry out its duty, remove the illegal ponds, and detain those who assaulted security personnel,” the source added.

During a visit to Basra on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani underscored the government’s approach. “We emphasized the need to proceed with strict measures to address violations along the rivers and not tolerate them in any form,” he said.

Unauthorized fish ponds—many of which are unlicensed and tap directly into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers or use illegal wells—have emerged as a major challenge for Iraq’s water management. Officials say these ponds accelerate water loss through evaporation and divert water from essential sectors, including agriculture and drinking water stations, particularly in the country’s already drought-hit southern regions.