Water ministry continues removal of unauthorized fish ponds in Basra

BASRA — Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources said its campaign to remove unauthorized fish ponds and other water-related violations in Basra is ongoing, part of a broader effort to ensure fair water distribution and safeguard limited supplies.

“The campaign continues in coordination with security forces and supporting departments in the governorate, and includes removing all types of violations, especially those negatively affecting the delivery of water shares to beneficiaries for drinking, agriculture, or other uses,” the ministry said in a statement.

Unauthorized fish ponds—many unlicensed and drawing directly from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers or illegal wells—have become a major challenge for Iraq’s water management. Officials say the ponds accelerate water loss through evaporation and divert water away from critical sectors, including agriculture and drinking water supply, especially in southern regions already hit hard by drought.

The ministry said its field teams remain active in daily monitoring and enforcement operations. “Our technical teams continue with field follow-ups and daily monitoring to ensure the implementation of legal procedures against violators, to guarantee water sustainability for all,” the statement said.

The campaign is part of nationwide efforts “to limit illegal exploitation of water resources,” the ministry added, especially in light of the country’s ongoing water crisis.

Earlier this month, the ministry announced that nearly 90% of unauthorized fish ponds in Baghdad’s Radwaniyah area had been dismantled as part of the same initiative.

On July 4, four security personnel — including the commander of the Federal Police’s 12th Brigade — were injured during an operation to remove illegal fish ponds along the Tigris River in Basra’s Thaghar subdistrict.