Drought forces Czech fish farmers to take emergency measures

Fish farmers across Czechia are struggling with prolonged drought and an extreme shortage of water. They are reducing or suspending supplementary feeding to lower the fish's oxygen consumption, while ponds are being aerated regularly. Several ponds have been netted early.

In the Třeboň area, which delivers tons of carp for the Czech Christmas table, part of the 200-hectare Koclířov pond has been drained and the fish moved to holding tanks.

More than a third of the water is missing from the region's famous system of fish ponds due to the drought. The water level in Lake Svět, for example, has fallen by 98 centimetres. High temperatures are also causing water to evaporate more quickly.