Environmentalists have drilled more than 25,000 holes by hand in ice covering bodies of water in the country's southern Astrakhan region to save suffocating fish, officials said Tuesday.
The thick ice has led to a fish die-off from a lack of oxygen dissolved in the water, the Volga-Caspian department of the Federal Fisheries Agency said in a statement.
"Specialists drill 10 to 12 holes per hectare using ice augers. Then they put reeds into the holes, which allow the fish to breathe and prevent the holes from freezing over," the statement said.
A group of Greenpeace activists left Moscow last week to fight forest fires in the region, which features extensive marshland at the mouth of the Volga River where it empties into the Caspian Sea.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
