Babil Environment Directorate: fish die-offs in Yahudiya River caused by wastewater, not disease

BABIL — The Babil Environment Directorate on Sunday announced findings from an investigation into the deaths of large numbers of fish in the Yahudiya River, concluding that pollution from wastewater dumping was the main cause.

“The primary results did not show any pathological indicators, which suggests the fish were exposed to environmental poisoning,” said Maki Hadi, director of Babil Environment.

Jasib Al-Hijami, director general of the Middle Euphrates Environment Protection and Improvement Directorate, said investigative teams “collected samples from the river water and performed autopsies on the dead fish for the necessary analyses.”

The department said evidence pointed to the nighttime discharge of wastewater into the river, along with the presence of waste and stagnant water. Residents reported that some tanker owners were dumping sewage in the river at night.

The Environment Ministry confirmed that laboratory testing is continuing and pledged to “take all legal and technical measures to protect the river and limit harmful practices affecting the environment and public health.”

In early June, a mass fish die off in Hor Ibn Najm was caused by falling water levels that led to dangerously low levels of dissolved oxygen, according to a report released by the Najaf Environment Directorate.

Iraq is grappling with its worst water crisis in decades, with national reserves at their lowest levels in 80 years following a dry rainy season. Officials have pointed to climate change, drought, and upstream dam projects in Turkey and Iran as major contributors to the crisis.