Thousands of fish found dead in Chamchamal pond

CHAMCHAMAL — More than 5,000 fish were found dead this week in Dukamari pond along the Basara stream in Sulaymaniyah’s Chamchamal district, according to local residents, who suspect the cause may be deliberate poisoning.

The incident occurred between the villages of Qarikh and Derasha in the Sangaw subdistrict. Aso Madhat, a resident of the area, told 964media, “It seems someone wanted to catch a few fish easily, but what happened turned into a disaster — five to six thousand fish have died.” He said the pond had been home to fish weighing up to four kilograms and was popular for both fishing and recreation. “This incident has brought everything to an end,” he added.

Local officials said they were not notified of the incident when it happened. “No one informed us about this. But starting tomorrow, we will investigate the matter to uncover the facts,” said Aram Marouf, head of the Sangaw subdistrict.

Authorities said legal action would be taken if a perpetrator is identified, including possible charges under environmental protection laws.

The incident comes shortly after the end of a seasonal fishing ban declared by the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. The ban, which ran from March 10 to June 20, aimed to protect aquatic life during the annual spawning season.

On June 30, the region’s Forestry and Environment Police announced that 124 people were arrested and nearly 870 fishing nets seized during the enforcement period.