Europe's summer drought is so extreme that desertification is a growing threat

Key Points:

• Severe drought and extreme heat across Central and Eastern Europe have critically impacted fish populations and aquaculture, with juvenile fish at risk due to high water temperatures and low water levels.
• Hungary is experiencing extreme drought over 99% of its land, leading to the drying of 1,588 hectares of fish ponds and the death of nearly 280 metric tons of fish, causing an estimated revenue loss of $4.2 million.
• Romanian fish farmers face ongoing challenges from consecutive droughts in 2023 and 2024, with water policies prioritizing agriculture over fish farming, negatively affecting multi-year carp production cycles.
• Czech fish farmers have implemented emergency measures such as reducing feeding and aerating ponds, while Bosnian trout breeders are forced to reduce production and consider adding liquid oxygen to maintain fish survival.
• In Slovenia and Serbia, emergency efforts include pumping water into lakes and relocating fish to prevent mass die-offs, with officials expressing concern over the unprecedented severity of the current heat and drought conditions.