Another batch of small eels from the depths of the Sargasso Sea has arrived in Lake Nysa. This year’s stocking campaign has additional significance for the local ecosystem, which is still suffering from the devastating flood of September 2024.

The flood that hit the region in September 2024 caused massive damage to infrastructure and wildlife. Many residents and anglers watched with sadness as the water washed dead fish ashore. The natural disaster depleted the fish population in Lake Nysa, leaving it vulnerable to imbalance.

As part of the June campaign, approximately 4 000 young eels, each weighing around 12 grams, were released into the lake. All of them originate from the depths of the Sargasso Sea.

– The company has been supporting the restocking of Lake Nysa for over a decade – says Mirosław Obarski of Bioagra – This cyclical process allows for the creation of a fully functional aquatic ecosystem. This is especially important when nature needs help recovering from last year’s flood.

Regularly stocking the lake with selected species, such as zander, pike, eel, carp, and tench, is an investment in the health of the entire reservoir. Fish act as a natural filter, purifying the water, while predators regulate the population of other species, restoring biological balance.

– Artificially grown individuals have been brought to Lake Nysa, caught from the Atlantic Ocean – says Jakub Roszuk, ichthyologist and director of the Polish Angling Association (PZW) in Opole. – They drift there after being born in the depths of the Sargasso Sea.

As part of their year-and-a-half-long reproductive migration, eels migrate from inland waters to the Sargasso Sea on the other side of the Atlantic. They spawn at depths of up to 1 000 meters. The adults die, leaving behind eel larvae, which can drift for up to two years towards Europe.

The June stocking program is helping wildlife struggle to regain its balance. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Polish Angling Association (PZW) and the involvement of partners like Bioagra, the chances of fully restoring Lake Nysa’s disturbed ecosystem are increasing.

In response to the flood crisis, the Polish Angling Association in Opole has undertaken extensive remedial measures. In addition to stocking, efforts have also begun to restore natural water corridors where fish can breed and overwinter. These efforts also include monitoring the quality of habitats and food in tributaries of the Nysa Kłodzka River.