“Currently the impact of flood events is on turbidity and shading on benthic communities” according to the completion of the second phase of measurements conducted by Pagasitic Gulf Fisheries Research Institute.

Something that, as the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food emphasizes in a statement, “destroys every unscientific attempt to create false impressions and fake news, with regard to the burden on the waters, after the recent miracles”.

He adds at the same time that “nutrient salts are in small amounts as well as heavy metals at normal levels”.

According to the same announcement, “no dead fish were found” and underlines “how both the results of the underwater research conducted, which found that the phytoplankton, which is food for the fish, is at normal levels, as well as the oxygen and pH concentrations, which are at similar levels to those of the INALE stations in the Northern Aegean”.

Also, according to the research, the results were also optimistic in the measurements made in deeper sections (18-20 meters), while in the places near the coasts where there were meadows of marine angiosperm Cymodoceanodosa, which had been covered by transported materials, a dynamic of recovery and restoration was found of the meadow.

According to the announcement of the HYPAAT, the conclusions drawn by INALE are as follows:

1. During the two-day voyage (October 5-6, 2023) of the research team of INALE (ELGO-DIMITRA) in the Pagasitic Gulf with a fishing boat, no dead floating animal organisms were observed, while one dead fish that was observed was from fresh water. On the contrary, the underwater observations identified rich fish stocks in the column and on the bottom of the sea, and the measurements of the zooplankton, which is the food of the fish, showed a typical picture for the season.

2. Oxygen concentrations and pH values ​​in the seawater column moved to normal levels for the season, similar to those of the North Aegean stations.

3. Regarding the results of the chemical analyses, low concentrations of nutrient salts were measured in the seawater, even ammonium salts near the coasts, while the chlorophyll concentrations were typical of a coastal ecosystem.

4. No concentrations of heavy metals indicating toxic living conditions for marine organisms were measured in the water column and sediments. Analyzes continue and other priority substances and will be completed in the coming days.

5. Increased turbidity was observed compared to the North Aegean sea, with the Secchina disc visible up to 5 to 7 meters deep, instead of 14-17 meters, at the same time, at the North Aegean stations.

6. Optimistic were the results from Posidoniaoceanica marine angiosperm (nursery fish) meadows, where even in the deepest parts of the meadows examined, at 18-20 meters depth, no dead or sediment-covered bunds were found. Of course, as it was also photographed, these depths were dominated by green-hued waters, which indicates the beginning of a phytoplankton bloom phenomenon.

7. A large part of the meadow of the marine angiosperm Cymodoceanodosa, on the coast of the New Pagas (Alykes) was covered by transported materials. However, in its visible bundles, the measurement of physiological indicators of early diagnosis of stress (PItotal, Fv/Fm) showed the existence of a potential for recovery and restoration of the pasture.