Heat stresses fish in Saxony's waters, anglers advised to pause fishing

Fish in Saxony's rivers are struggling under the current heatwave and low water levels, according to the State Association of Saxon Anglers. Salmon and trout are particularly affected in flowing waters. Martin Schuster, spokesperson for the association, reported a small fish kill in the Chemnitz river, where many brown trout died. He noted that low water levels and minimal rainfall create extremely difficult conditions, with water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius becoming life-threatening for some species. "They really have to seek out the deeper regions, the deep river sections, where there is still some oxygen," Schuster explained, adding that this is no longer possible everywhere. Anglers are advised to refrain from fishing for trout under these circumstances. Georg Stähler, managing director of Teichwirtschaft Wermsdorf, also described increasingly challenging conditions in the company's 50 ponds. Low water levels have reduced fill levels to about 50-60 percent, while heat has pushed water temperatures to around 30 degrees, proving fatal for some fish. Approximately one ton of fish, mainly pike and sturgeon, has died so far. Stähler mentioned that feeding is also reduced, as more food consumes more oxygen. This lack of feeding hinders fish growth, leading to economic losses. While carp tolerate higher temperatures better, the situation remains precarious. "August is the most critical month, and we are not there yet," Stähler cautioned.