The fish were thrown into the sea by flooding last year, which is thought to have killed them, forcing them from their typical freshwater habitats.
Residents were disturbed by the stench emanating from the floating corpses, which covered the port in a silvery blanket.
Now, officials must work quickly to gather and remove the tons of dead fish before the stench spreads to neighboring hotels and restaurants.
It is kilometers long. Referring to the region offshore of Volos where the coast is dotted with vacation homes, municipal council member Stelios Limnios stated, “It’s not just along the coast, but also in the center of the Pagasetic Gulf.”
Fish were gathered by dragging nets through the water by trawlers, who then deposited the catch in the rear of trucks.
More than 40 tonnes of fish were gathered in a single day this week, according to the officials, and the operation is still underway.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Volos mayor Achilleas Beos declared that the smell was intolerable and held the government accountable for failing to handle the fish before they arrived in the city.
