Fish death in Nobitz: Dispute over water distribution escalated!

Fish death in Nobitz: Dispute over water distribution escalated!

In the small community of Nobitz, which is known for its idyllic environment, there are currently major problems that affect local fishing. The lack of water led to a pond drying completely and another pond had to be fished. Son and a half tons of fish were captured, some of which could be saved, but numerous small brood fish were lost. This leads to considerable economic damage, which is estimated at at least 10,000 euros. The cause of the problem is the low water entry of the Bach Niederleuptener Water, which does not bring enough water for the pond, which endangers the future of fishing in the region, as MDR

The water supply is regulated by a small weir, which provides both the water for the fish pond and for the bathing pond of the community. For some time now there have been disputes between Stefan Schröer, the head of the Altenburger Land fishing, and Mayor Hendrik Läben. While Schröer accuses the municipality of having manipulated the officially defined water layout, which provides for two thirds for the fish ponds and a third for the bathing pond, contradicts and says that a lock has been installed to prevent such manipulations. He emphasizes that the weir is only served in coordination with the water authority. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority has also confirmed that the weir is not legally a problem and is currently tolerated. A dismantling is not planned from a water law perspective, even if the dispute over the weir that was built in the 1970s and has no water law approval will continue to be negotiated in the courts.

The challenges of fish farming

While fish breeding in Nobitz faces very practical problems, the debate about fishing and aquaculture also addresses more comprehensive social issues. The world day for the end of fishing and fish farming asks to recognize the alarming conditions under which billions of fish live. According to studies, fish that are often considered insensitive have sensitive assets and show comprehensive behavior that is striking for many. The aquaculture is often advertised as a sustainable solution for overfishing, but the environmentally harmful aspects of these practices provide more and more questions, as the article on Sentanence.

In Europe, every second -consumed fish from Aquaculture comes, which makes the industry a growing business. It grows by about 5 percent annually, which is considerable. Research on fish farming shows that the majority of the breeding fish, such as Tilapia and Pangasius, are imported from countries such as China and Vietnam. The industry has learned from past mistakes, such as the excessive antibiotic use, and has started to implement more sustainable practices, as Andreas Müller-Belecke from the Institute for Inland Fisheries reports. Animal welfare standards are now being developed to improve the life of fish, while new fish species, such as the Emmafisch, are successfully bred in the pond industry.

The challenges in front of which fishing in Nobitz is a reflection of the complex reality of fish farming, which must be viewed both socially and ecologically. The call for reform and recognition of the suffering of the fish is getting louder, and it remains to be seen how these discussions will develop in the future. So that local fishing not only survives, but also flourishes, a rethink is required that goes beyond mere economic interests.