Carp crisis in Peitz: Fisherman fears for the future after the coal phase-out!

Carp crisis in Peitz: Fisherman fears for the future after the coal phase-out!

The traditional carp breeding in Lusatia is struggling with a mixed season this year. On Sunday, Peitzer Edelfisch GmbH's annual fishing took place in the Spree-Neiße district RBB24 reported. Ramona Oppermann, the company's boss, painted a picture of a cold spring and a lack of rain, which led to significantly fewer food fish growing - around 400 tons of carp made it onto store shelves. These carp are ideal for sale and weigh on average between 1.5 and 2.5 kilos. This poses challenges for the Peitz fishermen, as the main buyer of the carp, fish traders from Hamburg, Nuremberg and Berlin, expects reliable deliveries.

But the future brings with it uncertainties. Peitzer Fischer's competitive advantage could disappear by 2028 when the Jänschwalde power plant is shut down. So far, the fishermen have used the cooling water from the power plant to raise the fish. The constant temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius under the cooling towers allow rapid growth, which is of enormous importance for fish production. In natural ponds, however, fish go into hibernation during the cold season, which makes breeding them much more difficult. The Lausitzer Allgemeine Zeitung highlights that total fish production was targeted at around 100 tonnes per year, which includes trout, eels, catfish and sturgeon.

Structural change is affecting the region

Carp farming in the region has a long tradition - last but not least, the area south of Peitz is the largest contiguous pond area in Europe at around 1,000 hectares. The Peitzer fishermen originally started breeding with a government research contract that was aimed at supplying West Berlin in particular. But given the uncertain future of the coal-fired power plant, fishermen have to rethink and look for alternatives, for example in cold-water fish farming. However, there are currently still uncertainties about the implementation of such plans and a lack of an EU funding program that could provide support.

The challenge is also accentuated by an increasing population of fish-eating birds, particularly cormorants and herons. These influences could further endanger fish stocks in the coming years. An investigation shows that cormorant populations have increased significantly in the last two decades, which has a negative impact on the ecological balance.

Hope for support

Inland fishermen are currently receiving EU aid in this difficult environment, which is helping to keep prices stable for consumers. In the longer term, however, it will be crucial whether pond owners find solutions to avoid higher losses and costs. The signs point to change, and it remains to be seen whether the fishermen in Lusatia can demonstrate a good hand in adapting their strategies. With only three years to go before potential reliance on new breeding techniques, time may be short, but it could also be an opportunity to bring a breath of fresh air to the traditional industry.