Ecological crisis hits Volos: Millions of dead fish wash ashore

Dead fish have been accumulating in the port in the centre of the tourist town of Volos in Thessaly for a week now. Both residents and city authorities have taken immediate action to remove the fish before the situation worsens. Trawlers were used in the operation, collecting over 40 tonnes of dead creatures.

Experts and local authorities blame last year's floods for the disaster. At that time, Greece was hit by a powerful medicine, Daniel, which caused extensive damage and flooding, among other things, in Thessaly.

As reported on The Guardian's website, experts explain that the problem stems from last year's floods, which inundated the Thessalian plain in the north. The floods refilled a nearby lake drained in 1962 to combat malaria and tripled its size.

Since then, the lake's water levels have drastically decreased, forcing freshwater fish to move to the port in Volos, where they flow into the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea, where they cannot survive.

Experts explain that special safety nets were not deployed at the mouth of the river leading to Volos. When the fish met the sea, the salty water likely killed them.

Councillor Stelios Limnios noted that the problem of dead fish stretches for many miles. In recent days, floating dead fish have formed a silvery blanket on the waters of the Pagasetic Gulf, and the dead animals also cover the beaches.

This phenomenon has significantly impacted local gastronomy. Restaurants have seen a drastic drop in revenues – one beachside establishment owner, Dimosthenis Bakoyiannis, reported that his revenues had dropped by 80 per cent. Tourists are deterred not only by the unpleasant smell but also by the sight of dead fish.