Dead pike in Lake Kemnade: Are the temperatures to blame?

The Ruhrverband discovered several dead pike today, Monday, at the Kemnade weir and further upstream. Experts believe the fish deaths are linked to the exceptionally high water temperatures of the past few days.

The persistent heat has caused the water to warm up significantly. At times, the water temperature was even higher than the air temperature. As temperatures rise, the oxygen content in the water decreases, whilst at the same time the fish’s metabolic rate increases. This combination places considerable stress on larger predatory fish such as pike in particular and can lead to increased mortality.

“The current exceptionally high water temperatures place an enormous strain on the fish. We are therefore hoping for the support of our angling community and are appealing to them to temporarily stop fishing. Any additional stress can harm the weakened fish and further reduce their chances of survival,” explains Markus Kühlmann, fisheries expert at the Ruhrverband.

The Ruhrverband continues to monitor developments in its waters closely. Should weather conditions ease and water temperatures fall again, the situation for fish stocks is also likely to improve.