Mass fish deaths discovered in Polish lake

"Hundreds, possibly thousands,” of dead fish, mostly small fish between 5 and 8 centimeters long, were found drifting in a stream that feeds into Lake Jamno in Mielno, located in the northwest of Poland.

A large number of dead fish was found drifting in a tributary flowing into Lake Jamno in Mielno, northwestern Poland, earlier this week.

Photo: PAP/Piotr Kowala

The incident was reported to the Provincial Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in the regional capital Szczecin earlier this week.

Inspectors confirmed the presence of the dead fish at the scene but did not observe any unusual smells or visible pollutants in the water.

Initial inspections did not reveal obvious causes for the fish deaths.

Natychmiast zareagowaliśmy na dzisiejsze zgłoszenie dotyczące śniętych ryb w cieku Uniesta, dopływającym do jeziora Jamno (Mielno, okolice Urzędu Miejskiego). Inspektorzy WIOŚ wraz z przedstawicielami lokalnych władz prowadzą intensywne oględziny terenu. Stwierdzono znaczącą… pic.twitter.com/1L44FZYFTo

— Wojewódzki Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska Szczecin (@WIOS_Szczecin) March 12, 2025

Cause of fish deaths under investigation

Authorities hope that water tests, including analysis for heavy metals and other chemicals, will make it possible to determine whether the fish died from poisoning or if harmful substances had entered the water.

On March 12, numerous dead fish were found drifting in a tributary flowing into Lake Jamno in Mielno, a resort town in northwestern Poland. Photo: PAP/Piotr Kowala

Water samples have been sent to the Central Research Laboratory in Szczecin for further analysis.

The mass fish death was first reported by residents and officials in the resort town of Mielno.

11 marca, w Mielnie, dziesiątki tysięcy martwych i umierających ryb znajdowały się w kanale wpadającym do Jeziora Jamno....

Opublikowany przez Spotted Koszalin Środa, 12 marca 2025

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Source: IAR/PAP/X/@WIOS_Szczecin/Facebook.com/spottedkoszalin