The Breathless River


When dead fish covered the banks of the Neretva River, everyone knew something was terribly wrong. Although official investigations did not identify the true culprit, government officials confidently claimed that the catastrophe had nothing to do with Ulog’s hydropower plant. Unsatisfied and sceptical of these claims, a group of scientists and activists decides to take the matter into their own hands and uncover what really happened.

ABOUT

The story of this comic is partially inspired by and partially retells events that transpired in connection to a massive fish kill-off on the Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12th September 2025. 


You can read the reports of the accident and learn more about the problems that small HPPs cause to Balkan’s rivers here:


Ecological catastrophe on the Neretva: Deadly fish kill caused by Ulog hydropower operations | riverwatch.eu


Small Hydropower Plants Erase Life from Rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Earth Journalism Network


Here, you can learn more about the people protecting Balkan rivers, their battles, wins, and defeats: 


Save the Blue Heart of Europe


Welcome to riverwatch.eu | riverwatch.eu