BOLZANO. In the last few days, a serious fish mortality has been recorded in the Eschio River near Gargazzone, which led to the complete disappearance of aquatic fauna in the lower part of the watercourse.
The Alto Adige Fishing Union reports this, underlining that “the stream dried up in the last few kilometres after the entire flow was completely diverted for irrigation purposes”.
The drying up of the river has had a devastating impact on the animals that populate it. The consequences of the drought have been devastating: the biological community of the river has been completely wiped out – reports the Fishing Union – Particularly serious is the fact that, in addition to the chub and trout fry, countless young Padano barbel, a species protected at European level, have also died. The Rio Eschio is one of the few reproduction areas in South Tyrol of this threatened fish species and, at the moment, it is not possible to estimate the impact of this accident on the population”.
“Unfortunately, this tragedy is not an isolated case. Similar episodes have occurred repeatedly in recent years, as the water withdrawal for irrigation far exceeds the capacity of the Rio Eschio, as well as other smaller watercourses in the province”, says the South Tyrol Fishing Union, which launches “an urgent appeal to those responsible to take urgent measures to guarantee the prescribed minimum flow rates at water intakes throughout the province and to protect the biodiversity of the small watercourses of South Tyrol”.
2024-09-03 17:29:30