An unprecedented fish kill has hit the Raška River near Novi Pazar, where anglers observed hundreds of dead specimens of various species. The largest and rarest fish that had survived in that river for decades perished. Anglers and association members are calling this situation a true ecological catastrophe and demand an urgent reaction from the authorities. Not only have fish of all sizes and species died, but according to eyewitnesses, the entire river fauna, from insects to tiny aquatic organisms, has also perished.
The cause of the fish kill is currently unknown; teams from the competent inspectorates were on the ground and told Euronews Serbia that they would certainly release the results this week and announce what happened in the Raška River, where a large number of fish died.
“We were informed that dead fish were floating down the river. We immediately launched an operation, alarmed our friends, and came here; what we found, this is abnormal. It’s truly sad when a person looks at such a jewel of a river and we have to treat it like this,” Kenan Ademović, president of the fly-fishing section, told Euronews Serbia.
Elvir Hodžić, a representative of anglers from Novi Pazar, told Euronews Serbia that they found not only dead fish but everything that was in the river at that moment.
“Everything that was in the water at that moment was dead. From snakes, worms, brook barbel… it all died,” he said.
According to eyewitnesses, there was an unpleasant smell and the river was murky.
“We have some knowledge of what it is, but until there is an investigation, we cannot say anything, because you saw that the communal police, inspectors, fish wardens, volunteers, and even the Ministry of Environmental Protection were at the scene and are aware of this problem, and we are waiting to see what they will do,” Hodžić stated.
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Source: Euronews; Photo: Printscreen Euronews