In Čukarički Rukavac, right next to the Adi bridge where the Topčiderska River flows into the Sava, a full-blown ecological disaster has unfolded. A massive number of dead fish, mostly white carp, surfaced on the water, and the entire area is engulfed in an unbearable stench. This is not the first time such a fish kill has occurred here. The reason is clear – Čukarički Rukavac is a closed-off water body with very poor water flow, especially in summer when water levels drop. Additionally, the area is heavily polluted with wastewater from industry, residential areas, and agriculture, leading to oxygen depletion and organic pollution.
Fishermen, rowers, and floating restaurant owners were the first to notice the catastrophe and immediately started removing the dead fish because the smell became unbearable. Jovanović, one of the floating restaurant owners, said they had to help by collecting the fish with boats and bags, and everyone pitched in to clean up. Citizens reported the fish kill to the public company Ada Ciganlija, the police, and the water veterinary inspection, who went to the site and are taking water samples to determine the exact cause.
Veterinarian Budimir Grubić explains that the inspection will take all necessary steps and send the fish for pathology to see if there is any agent involved or if the cause is natural – warm water and lack of oxygen. He warns that it is too early to jump to conclusions about poisoning or pollution until the analyses are complete. Still, the situation is alarming and requires urgent action to prevent further ecological damage.
This ecological disaster in the heart of Belgrade casts a shadow over the state of our rivers and highlights serious problems with pollution and water resource management. Will the authorities finally grasp the seriousness of the situation, or will we keep watching nature suffer while turning a blind eye? If you have your own recipe to save the fish or just want to share how much the stench from Čukarički Rukavac has already annoyed you, feel free to drop a comment – maybe together we can find a solution!
