Newsroom
Authorities in Cyprus are examining a new incident involving dead fish discovered in the lake at Athalassa Park, marking yet another occurrence of a problem seen several times in recent years.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment confirmed that it has already instructed its relevant departments to act swiftly in assessing and handling the situation. Multiple government bodies, including those responsible for water management, forestry, fisheries, marine research, and environmental protection, are now collaborating to determine what led to the incident, reviewing all available evidence.
Teams on the ground have begun removing the dead fish from the lake, while further analysis is expected to clarify the exact cause of the deaths.
This is not an isolated case. Similar events were recorded in 2018, 2020, and 2024. Previous investigations linked those incidents to abrupt temperature changes and reduced oxygen levels in the water. These conditions were believed to result from rainwater runoff carrying high levels of suspended materials into the lake.
No indication of disease or pollution
According to Glafkos Kyriakou, spokesperson for the Forestry Department, early observations suggest that neither disease nor contamination is responsible this time.
He explained that staff have been deployed since the previous day to collect the dead fish in an effort to prevent any negative impact on other aquatic life. An emergency meeting involving all relevant services is currently taking place to further assess the situation and decide on next steps.
Early findings point to environmental factors
Initial estimates put the number of dead fish at around 80, with additional specimens still being recovered. Most of the affected fish are carp weighing between two and three kilograms, along with some smaller ones.
Preliminary assessments suggest that a sudden influx of water may have disturbed sediment at the bottom of the lake, reducing oxygen levels and stressing the fish. Officials emphasize that, based on current evidence, the incident is most likely linked to natural environmental changes rather than disease or pollution.
