Extreme Drought in Europe Threatens Fish Farms and Raises Desertification Concerns

Widespread Impact on European Waterways

Extreme drought and scorching heat this summer have affected ecosystems and businesses across Europe. In northern Serbia, a side channel of the Danube River has receded, leaving small ponds with juvenile fish vulnerable to high temperatures. Similar conditions have been observed in Slovenia, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Hungary.

Devastation in the Fish Industry

The fish industry has been particularly hard hit, with estimated damages in the millions of euros. This adds to existing challenges from energy and water supply issues, crop devastation, and losses in river traffic. In Hungary, 1,588 hectares of fish ponds have dried out, resulting in the deaths of nearly 280 metric tons of fish at 20 farms and an estimated revenue loss of 1.3 billion forints ($4.2 million).

Fish producers state that replacing lost fish could take years. Some operators were forced to drain one pond to save fish in another. For Romanian carp farmers, this year's heatwave follows severe droughts in 2023 and 2024.

Desertification Threat in Hungary

Approximately 99% of Hungary's land is currently experiencing severe or extreme drought. The process of desertification, characterized by vegetation loss due to high heat and low rainfall, poses a threat to much of the Great Hungarian Plain.

Future Preparedness

Countries and businesses, caught unprepared by this year's crisis, are now evaluating strategies to mitigate the effects of future extreme weather events. These events are linked by scientists to human-induced climate change, necessitating adaptation measures across the region.