bxpuser24710519

Can anyone see the river from theirs or have they been near the river today ? From my balcony it looks like a lot of dead fish floating there ? Should it be reported to river authorities ? if it is dead fish.

Jon-Bxl

Its already been reported last week... And testing is scheduled.

Some of the local fishermen think that there has been poaching going on where they take the roe of a certain fish (the bit that apparently sells most) and then they just chuck the carcass in the river!!

Terrible!

Jon

Jon-Bxl

Just to be clear, nothing is certain - just some worries and suspicions from the people I spoke to, last week, who are locals and involved with fishermen (on the Portuguese side - towards Alcoutim)... unfounded allegations/suspicions to date.

The authorities were informed last week and promised to do some testing to see if this is the problem.... or perhaps some other ominous one. Dead fish = not good news. Worst if we are now seeing dead fish all the way down from there to CE...

Apologies if I wasn't clear above

Jon

bxpuser24710519

Definitely dead fish, I can see them now the tide is out, just by the bollards on the cut off road. Not good whatever the cause, not very nice to see.

The Pope

There was also quite a few on Canela beach yesterday at low tide....

bxpuser24710519

I hope it is being investigated and the cause is addressed.

Jon-Bxl

Wow they are spreading, this is worrying.

I know the Portuguese authorities know - and by now I am sure and hope that the Spanish ones know too. With this huge volume of fish I cant see how its the fault of the people taking the roe... its just too much.

This could be bad.... I hope not.

If nothing else, with holiday peak season nearly on us, there is a HUGE incentive to get dead creatures off the public beaches

Jon

bxpuser24710519

I am seeing more today I am going to try and find out how to report this. If my husband was still alive he would know how to get this looked into. My man was a mine of useful info to me lordy I miss him so many ways.

mrtrumper

Does anybody know if they are still edible? Haven't had the barbecue out for a while....

bxpuser24710519

I doubt it. I read a river blog which said somebody had been swimming up river and had been ill. They also mentioned the dead fish and toxic water. The local police man I talked to today mentioned fabricas sounds like a pollution issue.

MikeJ

Are there factories along the lower Guardiana?

bxpuser24710519

I believe they have come down river, no proof, just having read about dead fish up river at Alcoutim, maybe the problem stems from there or beyond.

If factories have a run to the river then possible or if something has been dumped in the river then possible.

Jon-Bxl

When I spoke to the guys near Alcoutim last week, they advised not to swim in the river (at that time)... I wouldn't even consider it now... not that I'd feel safe in the river with its currents anyway.

The ocean is a different matter I think, but I personally would hesitate anyway till I heard an official report.... you never know...

I can't believe its not been reported to the Spanish authorities and I think there is a huge incentive for them to sort it out.

I'm sure they will.

Jon

PS will the fish attract the bankers??? .... errrr typo I mean the sharks Another reason not to swim with them

MikeJ

The lower Guardiana is fed from 2 large reservoirs/lakes at Estrel and Baragem de Chanca so any significant pollution would need to happen below these (or half the local population would be dead by now). I don't think there are any factories in this stretch so it is very unlikely to be industrial pollution.
So this leaves deliberate dumping or natural biological causes.
Or maybe someone has been using dynamite for fishing

bxpuser24710519

The Junta boat went up river about half hour ago with a man looking at the stream of dead fish, again this morning.

MikeJ thanks for the information abut the river.