Local authorities temporarily removed 6 out of a total 11 Blue Flags from beaches along the Volos shores and neighboring area due to the dead fish disaster in Pagasetic Gulf.
The decision was taken by the Municipality of Volos on Tuesday.
The Blue Flags removal is temporary and the decision has been taken with the aim of protecting both bathers and the “Blue Flag 2024” program of the Greek Society for the Protection of Nature.
The removal of the Blue Flags regards the beaches of : Plakes, Anavros, Alykes, Amfanon, Amaryllis and Kritharia.
The Blue Flags program will resume for all the coasts of the Municipality when the phenomenon is controlled, the suitability of the bathing waters is ensured and always in communication with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, local newspaper taxydromos.gr reported.
Tons of dead fish filled the sea and beaches of the port of Volos neighboring beaches in the last ten days with the phenomenon to have reach unprecedented levels in the last 2-3.
According to local authorities the phenomenon is due to the sluice gate of Lake Karla further in the North, from where the fresh-water fish in the lake passes into the Pagasetic Gulf and die due to the change in the salinity of the water.
With delay local and central government authorities as well as institutions in charge like the Port Authority of Volos have been mobilized and today Wednesday the removal of the fish from the sea and the beaches has started.
At the same time, the Regional governor of Thessaly closed the sluice gate of Lake Karla and placed a net barrier on Tuesday.
Local businessmen mostly in the touristic sector threaten to claim compensations as the view and the stench of the dead fish have their customers turn their back with loath.
Volos Mayor Achilleas Mpeos sailed through the area on Tuesday, took pictures and wrote that the problem with the dead fish is not limited to the shoes of Volos but has spread in the whole Gulf.
More information on the Huge Dead Fish Disaster here on KTG.