The Orontes River in the Al-Ghab Plain in northwestern Syria is experiencing unprecedented dryness for the first time in decades, leaving behind cracked earth and stagnant pools. Once a vital source of water and life, the river now represents a battleground against drought and poverty.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), despite the drought conditions, hundreds of individuals are resorting to primitive fishing methods, attempting to catch the dwindling fish population before the river disappears entirely. However, beneath this poignant situation lies a stark warning about the potential extinction of aquatic life and the collapse of an entire ecosystem unless urgent measures are taken to preserve what remains.
Bassem Hababa, a fisherman from the town of Al-Tamanah, warned that the Orontes River is enduring its worst drought in 54 years, with water levels dropping alarmingly. This has resulted in the death of many fish due to low water and rising temperatures, compounded by rainfall diminishing to less than a quarter of the annual average—factors that have intensified the drought crisis and led to a drastic decline in the river’s conditions.
He added that fish species such as carp, catfish, mullet, and tilapia, which are key to the local diet and economy, have suffered, further exacerbated by the intrusion of invasive species like the African catfish, which preys on local fish eggs and threatens biodiversity.
As the waters recede, fishermen from the towns of Al-Tamanah, Jisr Al-Bitras, Al-Imqiyah, and Qabr Fuda have turned to traditional fishing techniques using nets and rudimentary rods. Fisherman Majid Abdo from the town of Jisr Al-Bitras noted, “There’s nothing left to catch… the fish that provided our livelihood have become mere memories.”
Mohammad Daher, a fisherman from Al-Imqiyah, explained that the river’s drought has led to a collapse of fish farming projects along the Orontes River, with fish farm production in the Al-Ghab Plain plummeting from 40% to less than 10%. Farm owners have been forced to incur high costs to pump water from underground wells. Additionally, the drought has affected crop irrigation, leading farmers to reduce their planted areas or abandon fields altogether, and some have resorted to using contaminated water sources, which may lead to health issues.
The agency reports that the Orontes River is no longer merely a water resource; it has become a testament to an escalating environmental and humanitarian crisis with no viable solutions in sight. The ongoing illegal fishing serves as an indication of longstanding neglect and climate change for which there has been no preparedness. Saving the river necessitates immediate intervention from government institutions and local communities before it becomes a chapter in a history that cannot be rewritten.