Summer heat puts pressure on Waldviertel carp farmers

Summer heat made this year difficult for fish farmers in the Waldviertel, where high water temperatures threatened oxygen levels in ponds, ORF reported. The issue was discussed at the annual carp harvest festival in Heidenreichstein, a town in the Gmünd district.

At the traditional “Abfischen”, pond water is drained so carp can be caught and the pond emptied over several rounds. The event drew visitors who came to learn about fishing and try carp dishes.

Andreas Kainz of the Lower Austrian pond farmers’ association said water temperatures had been extremely high at times. Warmer water can hold less oxygen, he said, forcing fish farmers to monitor oxygen levels constantly.

A three-year European aquaculture project launched this year is bringing together the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, the pond farmers’ association and businesses to identify challenges and possible solutions, including digital tools. Kainz said one idea was to use photovoltaic systems to add oxygen to ponds, many of which are far from electricity infrastructure.

Climate change will continue to affect the more than 2,000 fish ponds in the Waldviertel. Carp farming is an important economic activity in the region, with about 400 tonnes of carp produced across Lower Austria each year.

It is still uncertain whether every pond can be harvested this year. Fish farmer Michael Poppinger said his holding facilities, where carp are kept for Christmas, have received much less fresh water than in previous years, and that rain was the only thing that could help. He said the supply of Christmas carp was nevertheless secure.