Chronicle
The heat and the lowest water level since records began in 1965 are causing fish to die in Lake Neusiedl. The dead animals are removed by professional fishermen, reported Christian Sailer, head of the main department for water management in the state of Burgenland.
Because of the size of the lake, however, no general relocation as in Zicksee is possible, said Sailer, who is also head of the “Task Force Neusiedler See-Seewinkel”, on Saturday in an interview with the APA – more on this in No water in the Zicksee: rescue operation for fish. After dead animals were discovered and removed near Weiden am See on Friday, dead fish were found further south near Illmitz on Saturday, according to Sailer. The dying occurs more frequently near the bank and in the reeds, occasionally also on the open water surface. The animals were taken from the lake by commercial fishermen.
Water up to 30 degrees Celsius warm
The high water temperature caused by the heat – on Saturday, according to the water portal of the Burgenland hydrographic service, more than 30 degrees Celsius were measured in some places – leads to a lower oxygen content in the lake, Sailer explained. According to the information, pikeperch and Sichling (also called goats), which prefer cooler water, died in particular. Since there is no typical stratification of warmer and cooler zones in the lake due to the low water level, the fish can no longer withdraw.
Only 115.01 meters above the Adriatic Sea
The situation is being observed, Sailer emphasized. “Currently, commercial fishermen are managing to remove the dead fish,” he said. Further developments also depend on the weather – high air temperatures and rain showers are forecast for the coming days. Due to the heat on Monday, the water level reached 115.04 meters above the Adriatic Sea, the lowest since records began. In the following days, a decline was recorded again. On Saturday afternoon the value was only 115.01 meters above the Adriatic Sea. At high temperatures, the drop is around 0.7 to one centimeter a day, Sailer explained.