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🇧🇪 Belgium /Environment & Climate

Flemish rivers hit record high temperatures, threatening aquatic life

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Flemish waterways recorded their highest temperatures ever in July, averaging 23.9 degrees Celsius.
  • The record heat is attributed to an unusually warm and dry spring and summer, leading to reduced water levels.
  • Experts warn of significant fish mortality and potential economic consequences due to the elevated water temperatures.

Flemish rivers, canals, and lakes experienced unprecedented temperature highs in July, reaching an average of 23.9 degrees Celsius, according to measurements from the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM). This record-breaking warmth is a direct consequence of an exceptionally hot and dry spring and summer, which has significantly reduced water levels across the region. In some watercourses, temperatures soared even higher, with the Kleine Nete reaching 24.7 degrees and the Netekanaal hitting 25.8 degrees Celsius.

In the waterways in my neighborhood, you can see the large fish just lying below the water surface. You can assume that all fish species in Flanders are currently under stress.

— Gerlinde Van ThuyneDescribing the impact of high water temperatures on fish.

The prolonged dry spell, particularly a severe lack of rainfall in July, measuring only 10.6 millimeters in Ukkel, seven times less than usual, has meant that waterways are receiving minimal replenishment. The remaining water is warming up more rapidly, creating stressful conditions for aquatic ecosystems. Hydrologist Patrick Willems warns that this situation not only leads to fish mortality but also threatens to cause considerable economic damage.

Fish have no room left to flee; in Balen, a fish ladder was even closed because the water quality was so bad. That has never happened before. On top of that, the water is also very warm, and warm water leads to oxygen deficiency.

— Gerlinde Van ThuyneExplaining the combined pressures of habitat loss and low oxygen on aquatic life.

Aquatic life is under severe strain, with biologists observing large fish struggling beneath the surface. Species are being forced out of their habitats as warmer waters reduce oxygen levels, creating a hostile environment. The situation is particularly dire for vulnerable species residing in upstream areas, such as the river lamprey and bullhead, which are being displaced by more heat-tolerant invasive species. In a striking example, fishermen recently caught tropical cichlids, typically found in the Malawi-Mozambique Rift Valley lakes, in the Netekanaal, indicating a drastic shift in the local aquatic environment.

In the Netekanaal, aquarium fish that normally only occur in Lake Malawi are now surviving.

— Gerlinde Van ThuyneIllustrating the extreme shift in water conditions with the presence of tropical fish.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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