The Oder

Official information about the Oder environmental disaster was released on July 26, 2022, and concerned the area of the Lipki weir on the border of the Opole Voivodeship and Lower Silesian Voivodeship. However, the village administrator of Lipki, Zdzisław Uryga, claims that the first dead fish were observed in that area over two weeks earlier, on July 7.

Two men who were sailing in a boat along the Oder river bed inform the barrage inspection head in Oława about dead fish in the river. On the same day, the Inspectorate of Environmental Protection receives District information about a mass mortality involving fish.

The Wrocław Provincial Environment Inspectorate collects water samples from three places between the Lipki lock and Oława. Observing the high oxygenation of the water, inspectors initially claim that a strongly oxidising substance was released into the Oder River. Ultimately, however, they verified there was no lack of oxygen in the water and no dead fish.

Residents of Oława report that dead fish are visible in the Oder River riverbed in Oława. According to the Fishing Club No. 6 from Jelcz-Laskowice, these fish have been flowing from Silesia, around the Gliwice Canal, for three days.

Dead fish move downstream. In Oława, the scale of the disaster and the vast number of dead animals are visible. The problem increases. The Oława branch of the Polish Fishing Association issues a statement and announces an action to catch fish from the upper and lower Oder canals in Oława for the next day.

Almost eight tons of dead fish were fished out of the river in Oława. The action was mainly attended by anglers and city residents who wanted to save their river. The action was coordinated by the Wrocław district of the Polish Fishing Association president, Andrzej Świętach, who estimated that the fish population would be unable to rebuild for a decade. Dead bream, zander, roach, metre-long pike, catfish and other fish were caught from the river.

The mayor of Oława, Tomasz Frischmann, informs the voivode of Lower Silesia, Jarosław Obremski, about the death of fish and pollution of the river. Only then does the Wrocław Provincial Environment Inspectorate confirm the presence of mesitylene in the lock.

MP from the Civic Coalition, Małgorzata Tracz, files an intervention and interpellation regarding the Oder River pollution, and the mayor of Oława, Tomasz Frischmann, notifies the District Prosecutor's Office in Oława regarding the Oder River contamination. In turn, the Lower Silesian Provincial Environment Inspectorate spokeswoman informs that there are no reports of large amounts of dead fish in the vicinity of Wrocław. The president of the Lower Silesian WOPR confirms these words.

Water samples were taken at four points on the Odra River, where an increased presence of oxygen was found, but no anomalies in water chemistry were detected. However, near Głogów, dozens of dead fish flow along the Oder River. Dead fish wash up on the shore. Due to water contamination near Kleń, fishing competitions on the Oder River are cancelled.

More samples were taken to check the water level in the river. A high oxygen content was found in the water at the sampling point in Widuchowa. The first reports of dead fish have appeared in the Lubusz Voivodeship.

Thousands of dead fish appear in the Oder River in Nowa Sól and Krosno Odrzańskie (Lubusz Voivodeship). Residents report that the water is murky and smelly. Cigacice (Lubusz Voivodeship) and Wrocław also noticed the first dead fish.

On that day, the largest national media report about the disaster on the Oder River. The dead fish reach Western Pomerania. The Voivode of Lubusz, Władysław Dajczak, informs that no excessive amounts of toxins have been detected in the Lubusz part of the Oder River. According to the Provincial Environment Inspectorate in Katowice, no pollution was found in the Gliwice Canal. The Regional Water Management Board in Wrocław appeals to residents not to enter the river.

The Provincial Environment Inspectorate in Wrocław notifies the District Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of committing a crime against the environment. It also states that samples taken after August 1st do not contain mesitylene. Dead fish are also found in Brandenburg. German media, the authorities of the city of Frankfurt and the provinces of Oder-Spree, Märkisch-Oderland and Uckermark warn residents against entering the Oder River. The Provincial Environment Inspectorate in Zielona Góra appeals not to approach the Oder River. The soldiers are engaged in removing dead fish. Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg reports that Brandenburg experts found mercury in samples from the Oder River.

Firefighters remove over three tons of dead fish from the area of Krosno Odrzańskie. The first dead fish was found in Szczecin. Maciej Karczyński from the Provincial Environment Inspectorate states that samples from the Lubuskie, West Pomeranian Voivodeship and Lower Silesian Voivodeship do not contain mercury. Residents from these provinces receive alerts not to approach the river. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki dismisses the Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection and the head of State Water Holding Polish Waters. Axel Vogel, Minister of the Environment of Brandenburg, informs that high salinity could have been the reason for the fish mortality. The first barriers to catching dead fish are created.

The District Prosecutor's Office in Wrocław establishes a special unit investigating the Oder River environmental disaster. The police announce a reward of one million zlotys for the person who will help identify the perpetrator of river contamination. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki comes to visit the Oder River.

The first German-Polish meeting regarding the Oder River disaster takes place in Szczecin. Its goal is to improve and streamline communication. State Water Holding Polish Waters informs that they are analysing companies' activities on the Oder River. Over 200 soldiers, firefighters and other officers are involved in cleaning up the Oder River.

State Water Holding Polish Waters icebreakers appear on the river. Their task is to generate waves that will lift fish carcasses from the bottom of the river. Wrocław tests city waters and does not find mercury. Germany set up barriers to catch floating dead fish and share the results of tests detecting mercury in Oder River backwaters. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announces funds for restocking the river. Entrepreneurs lose money and business out because of Oder River contamination - there are reports of layoffs in fishing companies and the tourism industry. Fish are still dying.

The Minister of Climate and Environment, Anna Moskwa, presents three hypotheses for the Oder River environment disaster: toxic substances from illegal discharges, natural conditions, and highly saline industrial waters discharge. The minister announces the creation of a new water monitoring system. Entrepreneurs from the Oder River basin establish the Oder River Bridge Coalition. They announce blockades of bridges until the government explains the causes of the river poisoning. Fishermen light candles over the Oder River.

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Marek Gróbarczyk announces that a special act will be prepared within two months regarding creating a water monitoring system, sewage treatment plants, revitalization of the Oder River and compensation for fishermen. The Mayor of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, informs that neither mesitylene nor mercury was found in city waters. According to the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection, the condition of the river is improving, and the oxygen level is decreasing. Still, high salinity remains 5-6 times higher in some places than usual. The Poland Northern Chamber of Commerce calls for a support program for entrepreneurs affected by the Oder River environmental disaster (the right to compensation, exemption from rent or taxes).

Polish and German researchers find large amounts of Prymnesium Parvum, the golden algae. These invasive microorganisms produce toxins that can kill fish and other organisms, but only under certain conditions: very salty water and shallow water levels. The Provincial Inspectorate of Environmental Protection informs that the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection was aware of the mass death of fish in three voivodeships on August 3rd. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki learned about the case a week later, and citizens - nine days later.

Bans on using the Oder River are extended until August 22nd in the Lubusz Voivodeship and until August 25th in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The Minister of Climate and Environment, Anna Moskwa, appears on the Oder River, where golden algae were first detected and promises to investigate why algae have developed in the river. In front of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Office, people protest against the devastation of the Oder River. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Krzysztof Ciecióra announces compensation for those most affected by the consequences of the Oder River environmental disaster.

Satellite photos confirm a massive bloom of golden algae, probably contributing to Oder River fish deaths. Hundreds of dead fish are floating on a section of the Oder River in the centre of Szczecin. There has been no oxygen in the water for several days; it starts to stink, and the smell can be felt on the city boulevards. In turn, the situation in Lower Silesia is improving.

Information was revealed that the Lower Silesian Marshal's Office knew about the contaminated Oder River on August 4th, when State Water Holding Polish Waters informed the Marshal in an official announcement. The fishing ban was introduced only a week later, on August 11th.

In Szczecin and Western Pomerania, you can now take a kayak trip on the Oder River, and fishermen can go fishing on Lake Dąbie again. On that day, the ban on using the Oder River ended, introduced on August 12th by the West Pomeranian Voivode.
On September 14th, the ban on using the Oder River in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship was lifted, and from September 30th, fishing could be resumed in the Lubuskie Voivodeship.