Swimming Allowed in Stende and Irbe Rivers Despite Fish Kill, Inspectorate Says
Despite the mass death of fish in the Stende and Irbe rivers in Ventspils Municipality, the Health Inspectorate says the water is safe for people and swimming is not prohibited.
Even though a large number of fish have died in the Stende and Irbe rivers in Ventspils Municipality, swimming in these rivers is still allowed. The Health Inspectorate confirmed this to the LETA news agency, stating that the water poses no danger to human health.
According to the inspectorate, the condition of the water does not indicate a threat to people, so no swimming restrictions are being introduced. At the same time, the institution recommends collecting the dead fish from the rivers. This advice is mainly related to keeping the riverbanks and the surrounding area tidy, not to any direct health risk.
The incident has raised public concerns about the state of the water, but the official position is clear – the water is safe for swimming. Residents and visitors can continue to use both rivers for recreation, while following the inspectorate’s recommendations.
The Health Inspectorate’s announcement is intended to ease doubts about possible pollution. Currently, there are no bans or additional restrictions on swimming. The rivers remain open for public use, and the official assessment says there is no danger to human health.
This case draws attention to environmental issues in Ventspils Municipality, but for now the inspectorate does not see any reason for concern about people’s well-being. People are encouraged to monitor official updates and act responsibly to maintain the natural environment.
