Following the toxic spill, the fishermen say all the fish in the Spreca river are dead. They even announced lawsuits and protests.

After part of the sedimentation tank of the Sisecam sodium bicarbonate factory collapsed, causing a toxic spill across the farmland and entering the Spreca river, the fishermen say all the fish that inhabited the river are dead. While the analysis is still being performed, the fishermen have announced lawsuits and protests.

“There won’t be any fish her in the next 20 years, at least, which is quite normal. Fish are living beings as well, they know where it is dangerous and where people live. This is a dead river for the next 50 years,” said Senad Malagic from the Fishermen’s Association “Bosna-Doboj.”

Such is the prognosis of fishermen who have been fishing at this river for decades.

Fishermen from the Fishermen’s Association “Bosna-Doboj” are preparing lawsuits and even protests due to the pollution that had affected the Spreca river.

“Both wild and tame animals, dependent on the river Spreca and this part of Bosnia, are dying all over the area. The catfish, carp, perch, pike, and the famous pomfret, which is the most beautiful fish in the world, they have all died. I am not sure if there is a single fish species that was not affected,” said Senad Malagic.

Sisecam sodium bicarbonate factory from Lukavac is the one responsible for this disaster. A few days ago, huge amounts of dead fish have been pulled out from the Spreca river, but the disaster does not end there. Farmers living in the vicinity of the river say they cannot use the water from this river to water their fields or cattle.

It gets worse. Peacocks, ducks, geese can be found just a few dozen meters away from the shore. Their owners cannot allow them to approach the river because of the spill. Agricultural lands are also near the shore. The Civil Protection Agency has warned the citizens not to use the water from the river or the wells in the fields affected by the spill.

“The situation has stabilized, it's not dramatic. We have preventively suggested that the citizens not use the water from the Spreca river for their everyday use, but we also appealed to the utility companies to conduct an analysis of all the drinking water and their wells, but the private well owners have the obligation to control their wells, as well,” said Sulejman Delic Civil Protection Agency from Doboj-Istok Municipality.

Even though the spill has been contained all the fish are gone. The fishermen say they will not give up on their protests and lawsuit.