Gangs, smugglers, poison? Iraq's dead fish kick up stink

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Gangs, smugglers, poison? Iraq's dead fish kick up stink

Fishermen blame groups with alleged links to fish importers for poisoning local supplies

Published: September 02, 2020 10:40 AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

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Copy of 565020-01-02-1599028138502 — Poisoned water, illegal dams and even armed clashes: these days, fishing for precious barbels in Iraq's majestic river marshes involves navigating precarious waters. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565008-01-02-1599028125616 — For centuries, civilisations in southern Iraq have made a living from farming and fishing the whiskered, carp-like fish native to the twin Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565013-01-02-1599028122447 — Thousands of tonnes floated up to the surface of the wetland - dead. The causes of the mass premature deaths remain unclear, but marsh-based fishermen have some theories. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565021-01-02-1599028135065 — Fishermen blame groups with alleged links to fish importers for poisoning local supplies, although they did not specify what substance may have been used. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565014-01-02-1599028119263 — It's not Iraq's first riverine disaster: in 2018, fish farmers alleged their stocks were poisoned after millions of carp, used in the national dish masgoof, died. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565017-01-02-1599028145220 — This year, a preliminary study by the agriculture ministry ruled out any viral or bacterial cause, so allegations of foul play are again floating to the surface. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565019-01-02-1599028141750 — One speculative theory swirling among Iraqis is that Turkish and Iranian companies that usually import seafood stocks into Iraq had paid people to deliberately poison the marshes or disrupt water flows. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565015-01-02-1599028148374 — The marshes are home to rich flora and fauna, migrant birds and huge water buffalo, whose milk is made into a creamy cheese eaten at Iraqi breakfasts. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565023-01-02-1599028129057 — Hassan al-Rusha, a buffalo herder in Wasit, said poisoned waters killed 50 of his flock and caused more than 135 miscarriages of pregnant buffalo. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 565022-01-02-1599028132002 — There could be long-lasting damage to the marshlands' biological diversity, warned Diwaniyah's environmental commissioner Raghad Abdessada. | The chief of the local fishermen's union sails across the Delmaj marsh in Iraq's southern province of Diwaniyah Image Credit: AFP

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