Derik: Mysterious Environmental Disaster Threatens Fish Stocks, Calls for Urgent Action
Welat TV – Erbil
Large quantities of fish have died at Borze Dam in the countryside of Derik, raising concerns over an environmental disaster, amid a lack of clarity so far over the actual causes behind the deaths.
During a visit by Welat TV’s camera crew to the dam, thousands of dead fish were seen floating on the surface of the water and accumulating along the banks. Fishermen and residents of the area expressed their shock and concern over the incident, calling for the causes to be identified and urgent measures to be taken to limit its repercussions.
Majid Hosta, from the administration of the Derik Wild and Marine Fishing Association, said that fishing regulations prohibit the use of toxic substances and nets in rivers, as well as overfishing, noting that fishermen comply with fishing regulations and designated seasons.
Hosta described the fish deaths at the dam as a “real disaster,” explaining that the causes remain unknown and that it is unclear whether the deaths resulted from the use of toxic substances or from a disease or epidemic affecting the fish.
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Calls for Intervention to Prevent the Disaster from Spreading
The administration of the Wild and Marine Fishing Association said it had notified the relevant authorities of the incident and called for swift intervention to determine the causes of the fish deaths and take the necessary measures to prevent the situation from worsening or spreading to other dams in the area.
Borze Dam
Borze Dam is located about two kilometers from the city of Derik. It was built in 1983 and is approximately 1,532 meters long and 17 meters high, with a storage capacity of around six million cubic meters of water. The dam is used to irrigate large areas of agricultural land and is also considered an important site for fish stocks in the region.
Heavy rainfall and flooding in the area this year contributed to an increase in the dam’s water level, which had a positive impact on fish stocks and raised hopes among fishermen and residents for an improved season. However, the sudden fish deaths have renewed concerns over the environmental situation at the dam, as attention turns to the relevant authorities to determine the causes and take the necessary measures to prevent the disaster from worsening.