The port of Volos is currently grappling with a severe maritime crisis as thousands of dead fish in Volos Port have inundated its waters. Displaced from their freshwater habitats by severe flooding last year, these dead fish have created a silvery blanket across the harbor, bringing with them a stench that has triggered urgent responses from both local authorities and concerned residents.
Stelios Limnios, a member of the city council, highlighted the maritime scale of the crisis, noting that the problem extends beyond the immediate port area to affect the entire Pagasetic Gulf. This region is crucial for maritime commerce and recreational activities, making the situation particularly severe. To address the issue, trawlers have been deployed to remove the dead fish from the port, with over 40 tonnes collected in just 24 hours to mitigate contamination and prevent further environmental damage.
The source of this maritime disaster traces back to historic floods that struck the Thessaly region last year. The floods caused Lake Karla to swell dramatically, and as the lake’s waters receded, the freshwater fish were pushed towards Volos Port, where the transition to the saltwater of the Aegean Sea proved fatal. The absence of a protective net at the river’s mouth has been identified as a critical oversight, exacerbating the problem and leading to significant die-off. Mayor Achilleas Beos has criticized the slow response from authorities, warning of potential long-term consequences for the marine ecosystem.
This incident underscores the vulnerability of Greece’s maritime environment to extreme weather events linked to climate change. The Volos port area, an important hub for both tourism and maritime activities, now faces serious threats. Local businesses, dependent on maritime tourism, have reported severe losses, with Dimosthenis Bakoyiannis noting an 80% drop in revenue and Stefanos Stefanou expressing concerns about the city’s future.
In response to the crisis, the Greek government has introduced several measures to support affected businesses and restore the maritime environment. These include financial aid, suspension of tax and insurance payments, and initiatives to boost regional tourism through the ‘Thessaly Pass’ scheme. Cleanup operations continue as efforts focus on removing the dead fish from Volos Port and mitigating further damage to the marine ecosystem, with the aim of revitalizing the port’s economic and environmental health.
