Epsilon Open Archive

The impact by the Södra Cell Värö pulp mill on the local fish community has been
monitored since 1983. The waste water discharge area along with an undisturbed
reference area is annually surveyed using bottom trawl.
The catch is dominated by juvenile individuals of several gadioid (Gadidae) and
flatfish (Pleuronectidae) species. The most common species in the survey are dab
(Limanda limanda) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). The trend with increasing
catches observed in recent years has been changed. During the last decade there
have been more species associated with decreasing catches than with increasing
catches. Greater weever (Trachinus draco), scald fish (Arnoglossus laterna), black
goby (Gobius niger), swimming crab (Liocarcinus sp.) and edible crab (Cancer
pagurus) are however species that have increased in both areas on a longer term.
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) have increased
in the recipient area, but no trend has been observed on the reference area.
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and lemon sole (Microstomus kitt), however, have
had no trend in the recipient but have decreased in the reference area. Atlantic cod
(Gadus morhua) has decreased in both areas over the last decade. Since the beginning
of the survey period, species diversity in the catch increased in both the recipient
and the reference area. Based on these studies, no clear negative effect on fish could
be identified due to emissions from Södra Cell Värö.
Upstream migration of young eels (Anguilla anguilla) in the river Viskan has been
documented annually by means of traps in the river mouth. A strong decline has
occurred since the beginning of sampling in the late 1970's, whereas the recorded
number of eels sampled during 2013 was the highest in eight years. The decline has
followed trends seen elsewhere in northern Europe and is not believed to have any
correlation with the activities at Södra Cell Värö.
The area next to the outlet tube has been filmed every fall with an ROV (remotely
operated underwater vehicle) in order to investigate the sediment conditions and the
surrounding animal life. The seabed close to the tube showed no obvious sign of
hypoxia in this year’s filming and the animal life was normal.