The Volos Chamber of Commerce, by decision of an administrative meeting, today, Wednesday 28/8/2024, filed a complaint against all responsible, physical or moral perpetratorsdirect or simple accomplice for the offenses of breach of duty, exposure, degradation (pollution) of the environment, defamation, article 15 of the Civil Code or any other offense that appears to have been committed, in the Criminal Prosecution of Volos.

As the management of the Trade Association emphasizes in its announcement, the shameful image of the last few days in the city of Volos with the appearance of dead fish that have overwhelmed the coast of the Pagasitic Gulf is the culmination of a damaging summer season for the branches of the local economy. According to testimonies and press reports, the strong stench on the beach front, reaching the height of 28th of October street, causes a feeling of disgust and disgust with the result, as shop owners in the area say, of a reduction of customers by up to 80% and a huge blow to the tourism of Volos . As can be seen the effects of the floods are still evident, the commercial market is equally affected due to a decrease in tourist traffic and there is a major problem of contamination from dead fish, which have been washed from Carla Lake into the Pagasitic Gulf and from the negligence of sluice gates when draining the waters. of being reprehensible. The economic disaster is predictable as the tourist season, which could last until the end of September, is violently interrupted. Catering businesses operating on the beach front are suspending their operations and due to the interconnection of these two sectors of the economy with trade, the consequences for our sector will also be significant

In the lawsuit it is stated that the Pagasitikos Gulf has been flooded with millions of dead fish and possibly other “carrying” materials, resulting in the severe pollution of the Pagasitikos and the wider area and by extension the immediate danger to public health on the one hand, and the enormous defamation on the other hand of our region and consequently the tragic decrease in tourist traffic, the irreparable financial damage to our businesses and the general effects on the local economy.

After relevant investigation and information, it appears that the main cause of this pollution is the fact that the floodgate of Lake Karla remained (incorrectly and possibly illegally) open for a very long time, allowing, through the stream Xeria, the polluted waters of the overflowing of Lake Karla and the flooded Parakarlian areas, together with the freshwater fish, to pour into the Pagasitic Gulf for a very long time.

The phenomenon of the mass gathering of dead fish and the repulsive images that are created and spread throughout the country, but also throughout the world through the media and the internet, irreparably defaming our region, is found in the whole of the Pagasitic Gulf, but also in many shores of its coastline, but the highlight is the harbor and seafront of our city, where the situation is simply tragic and the sight to say the least disgusting!

It should be noted that in addition to the phenomenon of the concentration of dead fish, there is also a very long delay in their removal, especially on the beach of Volos, with the result that, on top of everything else, the stench caused is beyond particularly unbearable for everyone.

The successive natural disasters and the economic recession of the region leave no room for negligence and neglect. Commerce cannot afford any more mistakes, so the commercial world will not tolerate any more excuses.