Since March, 22 tons of silver carp have been caught by the municipality, which has called on the water authorities and the veterinary inspection.
Water analyses and various autopsies have not been able to provide an explanation for these numerous deaths. No harmful environmental intervention could be detected in the water, explains Carole Molitor of the water administration; the same goes for the fish, no viral or bacterial traces could be found during autopsies.
According to the authorities, several factors could be responsible for the death of these fish: long periods of drought as well as warmer spells, combined with the food supply in the lake, the number of fish present and their quality.
Another point of clarification is that the other fish in the lake appear to be healthy. Our drone footage shows that life continues underwater, with fewer silver carp. But why only these fish are targeted remains a mystery. It is difficult to foresee a sustainable solution, Molitor continues, and proposes some adaptations in the management of the lake and the fish.
The problem of silver carp has no impact on the project for a water sports centre launched by the municipality of Echternach, which plans to reclassify an area of two hectares (out of the 27 of the lake) that would be reserved for swimming. The administration in charge of the water quality analysis confirms that the samples taken are good, the file is waiting for an agreement in Brussels.
If everything goes according to plan, the first bathers could already enjoy the Echternach lake this summer to refresh themselves, at least that is what the first alderman of the municipality Ben Scheuer, who has been in charge of the dossier for many years, hopes. However, he excludes the re-introduction of new silver carp into the lake for the time being.
