Tons of dead fish have been removed from the Gliwice Canal in southern Poland after a toxic golden algae bloom triggered a new environmental crisis in the Oder River system. Polish authorities said the fish deaths were linked to Prymnesium parvum, a microscopic organism capable of producing toxins that can be lethal to aquatic life. The incident has revived memories of the devastating 2022 Oder River ecological disaster, when hundreds of tonnes of fish and other wildlife died across the waterway. Authorities are now closely monitoring the affected canal and surrounding waters to prevent the outbreak from spreading further. The latest event also highlights the complex conditions that can allow golden algae to flourish, including elevated salinity, nutrient pollution, unusually warm temperatures and low water levels. Research and conservation groups have warned that these pressures could make similar ecological crises more likely as climate change intensifies.
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