Concern prevailed in Ioannina recently, as lake Pamvotida had turned into a “graveyard of dead fish“. Specifically, the lake had filled with dead fish of the invasive species Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio), particularly along its shores, causing intense concern among competent authorities, residents, and visitors alike. The unusual phenomenon was first recorded around Easter, according to the Epirus Protected Areas Management Unit, with local authorities and OFYPEKA (Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency) mobilizing immediately.
Mayor of Ioannina on lake Pamvotida: Within our capabilities, we all contributed to investigating the phenomenon – We await the final conclusion from OFYPEKA
As Ioannina mayor Thomas Begkas tells parapolitika.gr, “everyone, within our capabilities, contributed to investigating the phenomenon and we await the final conclusion from OFYPEKA.” Because, as he points out, “responsibility for the lake’s aquatic element belongs to OFYPEKA, not the municipality or region.” “Since we don’t have this specific authority, we couldn’t have the mechanism to address such a problem, which was also very extensive,” he adds.
However, according to Mr. Begkas, “within the framework of our sensitivity for our city and our responsibilities on land, we took care to clean the lake of dead fish when the waves ‘vomited’ them out. Generally, in cooperation with the Region and the lake’s fishermen, we did our best to clean the lake, although OFYPEKA should have taken the coordination initiative.” “I acknowledge that OFYPEKA also lacks the necessary means for cleaning the aquatic element -although it should- but it should have at least coordinated us. So we -rightly or wrongly- took the coordination initiative,” he explains.
Regarding his cooperation with Epirus regional governor Alexandros Kachrimanis, he notes: “Obviously I called the Epirus regional governor and asked to cooperate, so we could clean the lake, since the competent authority is none other than OFYPEKA. The regional governor also mobilized the Veterinary Service, which is under his service, to contribute to clarifying the phenomenon. However, we await the final conclusion from OFYPEKA. Everyone within our capabilities did our best to investigate the phenomenon.”
Epirus regional governor: “It has not been determined so far that the phenomenon is due to pollution” – Criticism against the municipality
For his part, Epirus regional governor Alexandros Kachrimanis tells parapolitika.gr that analyses of collected samples are ongoing, but it has not been determined so far that the phenomenon is due to pollution, nor is it a virus. “This particular fish fell into the lake by mistake and began fertilizing other fish eggs. It’s one of the problematic fish,” he states, emphasizing that it appears to be due to environmental conditions prevailing in the area during the previous period (e.g., strong winds).
“The Region’s Veterinary Service took samples from the lake and sent them to a specialized laboratory in Thessaloniki for investigation, as we also sent a swan we found,” Mr. Kachrimanis adds, who makes pointed remarks against the municipality, saying it did nothing to help improve the situation.
It should be noted that teams from the Epirus Protected Areas Management Unit of OFYPEKA conducted repeated inspections at the lake and collected necessary fish samples for relevant analyses to determine the exact causes of the phenomenon.
Photos: epirusgate.gr
