Quagga mussel threatens Renken and the future of Lake Chiemsee!

Quagga mussel threatens Renken and the future of Lake Chiemsee!

in Lake Chiemsee, one of the largest lakes in Bavaria, has increasingly spread out a new, invasive mussel type, the Quagga mussel. This species, which originally comes from the Black Sea area, was first discovered in the Chiemsee at the end of 2022. The specialist advice for fishing of the Upper Bavaria district announced in its balance sheet for 2024 that the Quagga mussel becomes a danger to native species, especially for the Renke, which is particularly popular with anglers and gourmets and also lives from plankton. pnp reports that the Renke is currently supported with a lot of effort to secure its stock.

The influence of the Quagga mussel on the environment and fishing in Upper Bavaria is considerable. It competes for food with other plankton -eating species and could therefore make it difficult to eat the Renken. Dr. Bernhard Gum, head of specialist advice for fishing, reported on the challenges in the construction and environmental committee about the challenges with which fishing is confronted, and found that invasive types such as the Quagga shell put considerable pressure on the fish stocks. Chiemgau24 adds that also cause extreme weather conditions and the competition from predatory fish such as otter and cormorants.

ecological and economic effects

The mass increase in the Quagga mussel could also lead to serious problems in water supply. It clogs pipes for drinking water extraction and filter systems, which leads to high maintenance costs. Damages in the millions are already documented in other affected waters, such as Lake Constance. affected lakes could come.

However, there are also positive developments. The fishing stocks in Upper Bavaria are stable and grow. In 2024, 90 tons of fish were caught in Lake Chiemsee, the previous year's value was 74 tons. Targeted breeding measures are carried out for sustainable fishing, among other things, 800 liters fertilized Renken eggs in the Fischbruthaus according to Prien a. Chiemsee brought. Chiemgau24 also reports of a project to resettlement of the endangered brown mussel, which is funded with 100,000 euros.

However, the challenges of the Quagga shell and other invasive types remain significant. Measures to contain the spread are considered necessary to protect the local fish stocks and to secure the quality of life of the regional waters. The situation in Lake Chiemsee is an example of the complex interactions in ecosystems that are influenced by human action and climatic changes.