Swim ban in Volos enforced due to dead fish in Pagasetic Gulf

The restricted area spans from the Agria Beach in the east to the St. George of Kynigos Beach in the west, encompassing numerous urban and suburban beaches.

Beaches affected by the swimming ban include Anavros, Plakes, Nautical Club, Xenia Beach, Alykes, Agios Stefanos, Amaryllis, Kritharia, Marathos and Amfanes.

The ban will remain in effect until the Port Authority receives confirmation for the safety of the water from the Water Directorate of Thessaly Administration.

Environment Min Skylakakis visits Volos mayor to discuss dead fish pollution

Environment and Energy Minister Thodoros Skylakakis met at the Volos town hall with Mayor Achilleas Beos on Monday to discuss the environmental issue of the millions of dead fish in the Pagasetic Gulf. 

The flooding by the catastrophic storm 'Daniel' in September 2023 expanded Karla Lake to twice its size, feeding the fresh-water fish whose population expanded hugely, only to have them end up dead in the Gulf after the water gate opened to the sea and the water level abruptly dropped, Skylakakis said among other things. "It is partly a natural phenomenon," the minister said, and the abrupt drop by the opening of the gate released the fish into the sea, where they died. "This was not foreseen by anyone. Wherever there is some violation of the law, it will be noted," he added.

The waters at Karla are the responsibility of the Thessaly Organization of Water Management, he said, while he added that it will require a year before the new agency being set up to manage Greece's water resources must allow local agencies to join the Thessaly Organization.

Deputies of Climate Crisis & Citizen Protection Christos Triantopoulos and of Rural Development & Food Christos Kellas were also at the Volos towan hall earlier to discuss emergency funding and compensation.

AMNA