Śnięte ryby na Dunajcu w pobliżu elektrowni wodnej

Źródło: Robert

Thousands of dead fish were discovered by anglers following a malfunction at a private hydroelectric power plant on the Dunajec River in Ostrów near Tarnów (Lesser Poland Voivodeship). Wody Polskie (State Water Holding Polish Waters) has announced plans to report the potential crime to the prosecutor's office. A local MP has also intervened in the matter.

On Sunday, local anglers called the authorities to the Dunajec River in Ostrów. According to various accounts, the water level near a private small hydroelectric plant dropped by one to as much as three meters, depriving thousands of fish of oxygen.

The exact number of affected fish is still unknown, with the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków, Wody Polskie, and the police yet to provide an estimate.

Paweł Chodkiewicz, a WWF River Guard, said attached a video recorded by local anglers to a post on the X social media platform: "Tons of fish killed by water shutdown at the small hydroelectric plant in Ostrów on the Dunajec River. According to anglers, the water level suddenly dropped by 2.5 meters. The river lost to human ignorance. Emergency services were called to the scene. Footage provided by anglers."

Fish collected by power plant employees

"I arrived on Sunday around 6 p.m. and found employees of the power plant packing the fish into bags," stated Piotr Stolarz, a local angler.

According to Krzysztof Zakrzewski, a representative of the Tarnów branch of the Polish Angling Association (PZW), the affected fish included mainly chub but also crucian carp, roach, vimba bream, nase, some perch and carp. "We also found a few specimens of spined loach, which is a protected species," Zakrzewski informed tvn24.pl.

Stolarz reported that the water level dropped by approximately three meters after the release. "It was easy to notice because the pillars and the banks were wet," he noted. The fish were allegedly secured by the power plant employees.

Zakrzewski mentioned that the water release had been ongoing since Thursday. "On Friday, the power plant employees walked along the banks but didn’t see any fish. However, on Sunday after 2 p.m., an angler informed me about the dead fish. I immediately got in my car and went to the site, calling the power plant on the way to ask if they were aware of the situation. They told me they had no such knowledge. Two employees arrived and began collecting the fish, which seemed to weigh approximately 200-300 kilograms, into bags," the PZW representative recounted.

The fish disappeared overnight

"After 6 p.m., I was already home. Later, anglers began finding more fish," Zakrzewski added. "We discovered them about two kilometers from the power plant. There were thousands of them. It was a disaster. I've never seen anything like this," stated Robert, one of the anglers who searched the Dunajec riverbed on Sunday evening, in an interview with tvn24.pl.

The anglers called the police to the site. However, experts who were supposed to assess the scale of the environmental damage were expected to arrive only on Monday.

"By morning, the fish that had been there the previous evening were gone. They were taken away by the power plant employees," said Robert, presenting photos taken after dark as evidence.

None of the individuals interviewed could explain what happened to the fish found by anglers the previous night.

Polish Waters notify the prosecutor

The police are currently investigating the case. "According to reports, the power plant experienced a malfunction, leading to an uncontrolled release of water. As a result, fish in areas where the water receded were trapped," said Paweł Klimek, spokesperson for Tarnów police.

Wody Polskie announced that they were not informed by the power plant owner about the malfunction or any repairs. Magdalena Gala, spokesperson for the Regional Water Management Authority in Kraków, stated that the authority learned of the situation through local anglers.

"Today, we will file a notification with the prosecutor's office regarding a potential criminal offense," Gala declared. While she did not specify the exact content of the report, she highlighted that fluctuations in water levels, such as those reported, are typically prohibited and will be thoroughly investigated.

Inspectors from the Voivodeship Inspectorate of Environmental Protection were present and collected water samples. Preliminary findings suggest that the fish deaths were caused by oxygen depletion, not chemical contamination.

The fish, found in large quantities by anglers, mysteriously disappeared overnight. Witnesses allege they were removed by power plant workers. "By Monday morning, the fish we saw on Sunday evening were gone," said Robert.

Power plant owner responds

Attempts to contact the owner of the power plant were unsuccessful, but Krzysztof Pociecha, the president of MEW Ostrów (MEW stands for Mała Elektrownia Wodna - Small Hydroelectric Plant), spoke to Gazeta Krakowska. He confirmed a malfunction of the weir’s coating and explained that the plant had to lower the water level to make repairs.

"We acknowledge our responsibility and deeply regret the incident, but the malfunction was unforeseen," Pociecha said, disputing claims from Wody Polskie that the plant failed to notify authorities.

The case has drawn political attention. MP Daria Gosek-Popiołek from the Left coalition addressed the incident, demanding answers about who was responsible for the environmental damage and its alleged cover-up.

Environmental concerns and controversies

The small hydroelectric plant in Ostrów is a new facility, inaugurated this spring. Environmental activists had previously protested its construction, citing concerns over its potential harm to local fish populations and ecosystems, particularly within the Natura 2000 protected area.

The project moved forward despite opposition and criticism that its impact on Natura 2000 zones was not adequately assessed. Ada Słodkowska-Łabuzek, a spokesperson for the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków, told Radio Kraków in March that halting the project would have prolonged administrative and legal proceedings, potentially causing more harm to the environment.

Environmentalists remain critical, asserting that the power plant poses a serious threat to protected species and habitats in the Dunajec River area.