A number of fish were recently found dead in the Orontes River in the town of Darkush, in western Idlib countryside, amid ongoing investigations to determine the precise causes of this incident. Preliminary sources suggest the die-off is linked to olive mill waste discharged during the current pressing season, which had a negative impact on the region's fish stock.
Mahmoud Gajar, director of the General Authority for Fish and Aquatic Life branch in Idlib, stated in an interview with the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Monday that the branch monitored the incident and visited the die-off sites in cooperation with the Water Resources, Agriculture directorates, and the Olive Office. He indicated that initial field and sensory inspections suggested the die-off was linked to olive mill waste that reached the river course.
For his part, Gajar confirmed that a joint committee formed last year to monitor olive mill operations and prevent the discharge of their waste into waterways has begun investigating the causes of the die-off in the Darkush and Ain al-Zarqa areas. He affirmed that inspections suggested a link to mill waste water, pending the completion of investigations, noting that if olive mill violations are proven, legal measures will be taken in coordination with the governorate and water resources authorities.
Hamza Khader, head of the Darkush town council, confirmed that pollution, if proven, constitutes an environmental and economic harm affecting fishing and tourism. He pointed out that about 30 percent of the town's population relies on fishing, and that Darkush does not contain olive mills, suggesting the source of harm comes from neighboring areas. Fishermen have called on relevant authorities to determine the cause of the incident, pursue violators, and take necessary measures to limit losses and protect fishermen's source of income.
The Orontes River is the main water artery in western Idlib countryside and is known for its fish wealth. Complaints about the discharge of mill waste into waterways recur during the olive pressing season; this waste is rich in organic matter that may consume dissolved oxygen in the water and harm aquatic organisms.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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