Dead Fish Wash Ashore in Netanya Raising Concerns Over Chemical Sea Discharges
Dead fish washing ashore in Netanya and swimmer illnesses in Tel Aviv have raised concerns over recent chemical discharges near Ashkelon. Government authorities deny any link to the anti-algae experiment.
An investigation is underway in Israel regarding a potential link between dead fish washing ashore in Netanya and chemical substances discharged into the sea to combat algae that had previously disrupted desalination plants.
Journalist Shai Niv reported on social media platform X that an unusually large quantity of dead fish washed ashore last Saturday at Poleg Beach in Netanya. Concurrently, additional reports of dead fish and swimmers feeling unwell after exiting the water have emerged from beach areas in both Tel Aviv and Netanya.
The Chemical Experiment in Ashkelon
Following the shutdown of desalination facilities, the Water Authority received authorization to discharge chemical substances into the sea near Ashkelon to test whether these materials could prevent the spread of algae clouding the water.
The dispersion was approved by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with a committee including representatives from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy. The decision mandated strict limitations on the location and method of chemical dispersion, environmental monitoring, continuous tracking of currents, and an immediate halt in the event of drift toward the shoreline or suspected harm to marine life.
Official Responses
In light of the recent reports concerning dead fish and physical discomfort among swimmers, inquiries were directed to the Water Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture to determine if they had received similar complaints and what data they possessed.
The Ministry of Agriculture responded that they are not aware of widespread reports on the phenomenon and maintain that there is no connection between it and the chemical discharge.
The Water Authority also addressed the issue, stating:
"The experiment was conducted in Ashkelon within a highly confined and small area. Following the discharge, a drone was launched, confirming that there were no issues or signs of marine distress."
