Electrical shock kills more fish than expected at Austrian fish farm

A fish farm in Schiedlberg, in the Steyr-Land district, faces losses of about 280,000 euros after a storm damaged a power line and electrocuted fish in its ponds, ORF reported. The damage has proved worse than first thought.

Fish farmer Mathias Maier initially estimated that he had lost 80 percent of his stock, about 20 tonnes across 21 ponds. He has since found that sturgeon in the farm’s display pond were also badly affected, causing the largest losses.

Insurance from Netz Oberösterreich could cover the damage. Maier said it could take one to two years to rebuild the fish farm to its previous capacity.

He said fish suppliers had offered to provide fish from across Austria, which had given him hope.