Millions Of Fish In Iraq River Die As A Result Of Increasing Salinity And Pollution

Dead fish in Al Mijar Al Kabeer District. (Source: Ahmed Salih Nima via The National News)

JAKARTA - Thousands of tons of dead fish were stranded on the banks of the river in Maysan Province, southern Iraq, a condition described as an ecological disaster.

The sad scene was revealed as a result of a significant increase in salinity and pollution, which stems from a lack of fresh water supply in the region.

"The reason is the lack of water supply from the Tigris River flowing into small rivers and canals in several parts of the province," environmental activist Ahmed Salih Nima told The National News, as quoted July 5.

"The lack of water supply causes a decrease in oxygen and an increase in the level of salinity, causing pH (city level or alkalinity) to increase, killing millions of fish," said Nima.

"A sustainable supply of water is needed to refresh water in these rivers and canals so that the temperature remains low and does not lower oxygen and increase salinity levels," he said.

The waterways that used to live in Al Mijar Al Kabeer District and its surroundings, which support abundant water life and support local livelihoods, now resemble graves, with lifeless fish bodies washed across riverbanks as far as miles.

Boats are now struggling to navigate rivers and canals that used to thrive, adding to the adverse effects of local communities most of whom depend on fishing and their supported businesses.

In fact, the affected areas, about 70 km southwest of the provincial capital Maysan, Amara, usually export 8-10 tons of fish a day to the southern province, Nima said.

"Today, it's completely gone. Thousands of fishermen are now affected, from fishermen to other businesses such as ice sellers, boat repairmen, truck drivers, wholesale and retailers," explained Nima.

Not only that, cattle breeders, who have relied on rivers for generations, have also lost money.

"We are in an endless difficult situation. Fish are missing and our livestock have died from lack of water and high salinity," Naim Hussein Joeiber told The National News.

The father of nine children aged 60 years has so far lost four cows and two buffalo out of a total of 30, but has no choice but to stay in the area.

"There is no water either and we are waiting for the government to help us. We can't go to the city, we don't know how to live there," he said.

The magnitude of the disaster has raised concerns from scientists and environmental experts about the long-term ecological consequences for the region.

Initial investigations showed a meeting of factors that contributed to this environmental disaster.

The main cause is the alarming increase in the level of salinity, which makes rivers unfriendly to the species of delicate freshwater fish that once reproduced in their waters.

The scarcity of freshwater supplies due to prolonged drought and excessive water use, also led to the entry of salt water from neighboring bodies of water, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.

The amount of oxygen in water has decreased to 25 percent from the minimum level, said Dr. Bassim Oribi, director general of the Maysan Animal Hospital.

According to Dr. Oribi, the minimum level must be between 2mg to 5mg per liter. But now it is at 0.5 mg/l. The alarming level of pollution is exacerbating the crisis.

Disposal of unobserved industrial waste, unprocessed waste, and agricultural runoff into rivers has turned water into toxic, killing fish and other water organisms.

The absence of an effective waste management system and environmental regulations in the region helped accelerate the decline in water quality.

The situation has prompted calls for immediate action from the authorities.

Environmentalists and residents who care urge the government to prioritize the recovery of freshwater supplies and implement strict pollution control measures.

The need for a strong waste management system and sustainable agricultural practices is more urgent than ever before.

It is known, known in ancient times as Mesopotamia or Tanah Antara Dua Sungai, Iraq was at the heart of an area known as the Fertile Crescent.

Currently, the United Nations classifies the oil-rich country as the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to climate change.

The severe water crisis has gradually deteriorated over the decades, negatively affected by climate change, mismanagement, and pollution.

Desertification affects 39 percent of the country and 54 percent of its agricultural land has been degraded, mainly due to soil salinity caused by historically low water levels in the two rivers, reduced rainfall and sea level rise.

Not only that, Iraq's two main sources of water, the Tigris river and Islam, which account for more than 90 percent of the country's freshwater reserves, have declined significantly over the years. Construction of dams and water diversion upstream in Turkey and Iran has exacerbated the crisis, leaving downstream countries such as Iraq water shortage.

This has exacerbated war and conflict for decades, damaging or destroying state infrastructure, leading to water loss and inefficient distribution.

"I estimate the environment in Maysan will get worse drastically in the next two weeks and we will lose more fish in other areas," Nima warned.