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Maintenance work on the Goethe pond: Amphibian protection starts on October 14th!
The science city of Darmstadt will be carrying out maintenance work on the Goethe pond from October 14th to protect amphibians.
Maintenance work on the Goethe pond: Amphibian protection starts on October 14th!
In the science city of Darmstadt, maintenance work on the Goethe pond in Bessungen is on the agenda from Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The responsible authorities decided on the measure to protect the native amphibian populations. The reason? A sharp increase in the stickleback population, most recently noted by the fisheries warden. A high population of this fish species could endanger the development and survival of native amphibians in the coming year, as rheinmainverlag.de reports.
The work on the pond is expected to take around a week. In order to increase the amphibians' chances of survival, the water is drained as part of the maintenance measures. This also includes the removal of fish species that are not typical of the location and do not belong to the natural fauna. The fish taken should, if possible, be relocated to suitable waters within the city area. The aim of these comprehensive measures is to restore the ecological balance in the Goetheteich in order to sustainably secure the natural habitats of the amphibians, as da.news explains.
An economic factor becomes a threat
The danger posed by the high stickleback population is reminiscent of current developments with other fish species in Germany. The zander population in the Rhine, Saar and Moselle is also at risk from invasive species such as the black-mouthed goby. This goby, which has multiplied explosively, competes fiercely for food and habitat. Their presence makes it harder for native fish species, including walleye, to recover. This topic illustrates the necessary steps that must also be taken in Darmstadt in order to maintain the ecological balance.
The city of Darmstadt urgently points out that releasing fish from private aquariums or garden ponds into public waters is not only prohibited, but can also cause significant disruption to local ecosystems. Such interventions primarily endanger the sensitive structures that ensure the survival of native species. The responsible use of water is of great importance here.