Epsilon Open Archive

The impact of the Södra Cell Värö pulp mill effluent on the local fish community has been monitored since 1983. The waste water discharge area and an undisturbed reference area are surveyed annually using a bottom trawl. The catch was dominated by juvenile individuals of several gadioid (Gadidae) and flatfish (Pleuronectidae) species. The most common species in the survey were dab (Limanda limanda) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). The abundance of several species has increased in the catches over time, especially in Värö. Greater weever (Trachinus draco), scald fish (Arnoglossus laterna), black goby (Gobius niger), brill (Scophthalmus rhombus), sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus), swimming crab (Liocarcinus sp.), green crab (Cancer maenas) and edible crab (Cancer pagurus) are species that have increased in both areas on a longer term. Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and lemon sole (Microstomus kitt), however, have had no trend in the recipient but have decreased in the reference area. Atlantic cod and plaice have decreased in both areas over the last decade. Since the beginning of the survey period, the number of species in the catch increased in both the recipient and the reference area. Species diversity has increased in Värö but not in the reference area. Based on these studies, no clear negative effect on fish could be identified due to emissions from Södra Cell Värö. Common spider crab (Macropodia rostrata) was caught for the first time in Värö 2014. Upstream migration of young eels (Anguilla anguilla) in the river Viskan has been documented annually by means of catches in traps in the river mouth. A strong decline has occurred since the beginning of sampling in the late 1970s. However the recorded number of eels sampled during 2014 was the highest in eleven years. The decline has followed trends seen elsewhere in northern Europe and is not likely the effect of 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.