A serious pollution incident has struck the Asneiro River in the Pontevedra municipality of Dozón. Last Saturday, a slurry spill caused a mass die-off of trout along a six- to eight-kilometer stretch , from the Parada area to near the water intake. The Río Deza Sport Fishing Club has described the event as a complete annihilation of the fish population in the area.
The alert was raised by a fisherman who came across dozens de peces dead bodies were floating on the seabed and banks. He immediately notified the authorities and the club itself. A Civil Guard patrol, Seprona agents, and personnel from the Ministry of the Environment went to the scene, and They inspected the riverbed and collected water samples. to identify the contaminant and clarify the origin of the spill.
Ongoing investigation and possible source of the spill
On-site inspections have led investigators to an area near the road connecting O Sisto with the N-525, in the vicinity of Pozo Negro. This is where the likely source of the slurry spill is located. The exact causes and those responsible remain under investigation , while technicians analyze the collected samples to determine the nature and concentration of the contaminant.
A video filmed in the O Sisto area starkly illustrates the magnitude of the disaster: dozens of dead trout lie on the riverbed and banks. The impact has been especially severe because the spill occurred near the source of the Asneiro River, a stretch that carries a very low flow at this time of year. The scarcity of water limits the contaminant's ability to dilute , so even a relatively small amount of slurry can reach lethal concentrations for aquatic life.
Risk to water supply and recreational use
The concern is not limited to the river ecosystem. Río Deza warns that downstream from the affected section are a popular recreational area, a river beach, and, even more alarmingly, one of the drinking water intakes that supply the municipality of Lalín . Although authorities have not confirmed whether the spill has affected the quality of the drinking water, the situation has raised serious concerns.
Appeal to the public and background
The Río Deza Sport Fishing Club has expressed its regret that "the images speak for themselves, and unfortunately this is not an isolated incident," describing the event as an "environmental attack." The organization has appealed to the public to Immediately report to the authorities any signs of spillage, change in color, presence of foam, foul odors, or appearance de peces dead in the region's rivers. Citizen collaboration is considered key to preventing future incidents and protecting river ecosystems.
This tragic event once again highlights the vulnerability of Galician rivers to agricultural and livestock runoff. The combination of low water flow, lack of dilution, and the high toxicity of the slurry has caused a die-off that, according to witnesses, has been almost total in the affected stretch of the river. While awaiting the results of the analyses, the fishing community and local residents remain anxious, hoping that those responsible will be held accountable and measures will be taken to prevent such an incident from happening again.