Drought forces Czech and Slovak fish farms to cut water and rescue fish

In the Czech Republic, the state‑owned Rybářství Třeboň fishery reported a water shortage of about 28 million cubic metres, roughly 37 % of its normal volume. Extreme heat and lack of rain have caused rapid evaporation, prompting early harvests of several ponds and a drop in revenue. Operating director Vladimír Kukačka said the company has had to limit feeding, aerate ponds and conduct emergency fish removals to prevent mass die‑offs.

Meanwhile, fishing organisations in Slovakia’s Považie region carried out rescue hauls from drying streams and abandoned river arms. Members of the Slovak Fishing Union (SRZ) saved nearly 500 kg of carp, pike, catfish and other species, relocating them to watercourses with sufficient flow. The rescue efforts were coordinated across several towns, including Trenčín, Púchov and Nové Mesto nad Váhom, as high temperatures and low oxygen levels threatened local fish populations.