From Hildburg Bruns
The rescue oxygen ship did not cast off. More fish suffocated in the Landwehr Canal than in the last five years combined. Lots of rats died too.
Due to the nice weather, the water in the canal was already quite warm and stored less oxygen. And then there were three thunderstorms in a very short time, washing biomass and germs from the streets, roofs and waste water into the sewer. Within a very short time, microorganisms used up the remaining oxygen.
The ventilation ship “Rudolf Kloss” is normally on the move on the Neukölln shipping canal and the Landwehr Canal from May to September. 324 hours in May/June last year alone. This year only from June 22nd, days after the thunderstorms.
Reasons: A permit for the operation of the ship had not been applied for in good time. In addition, it was determined that conversions and retrofitting on the ship (signage, safety devices, outlets) are necessary. It was only allowed to take off with a special permit.
The fish die-off a few days earlier after the long dry period and the heavy rains had been particularly severe: 7.5 tons of carcasses (fish and rats) were recovered from the water!
“It seems to me avoidable that this huge amount of fish had to perish,” says SPD animal expert Tamara Lüdke (32), who asked the Environment Senate for the numbers. The deputy continued: “It should have been more noticeable that permission for the ventilation ship was not available.”
Numerous dead fish were taken from the Landwehr Canal by the workers Photo: Sven Meissner
After the end of the current ventilation season, the ship has to go to the shipyard in September. Once the work has been completed, long-term approval can be expected again in spring 2024.