Ban Lifted On Prawn Fishing In Coila Lake

November 21, 2002

Coila Lake on the South Coast will re-open to prawn fishing tomorrow after tests showed strong growth in prawns in recent weeks, the Director of Fisheries, Steve Dunn, said today.

Mr Dunn said NSW Fisheries banned prawn fishing in the lake earlier this month in response to commercial prawn fishers’ concerns about slower-than-usual growth in prawns.

"The recent dry conditions were thought to have caused a lack of nutrients that normally get into the lake after rainfall," he said.

"Tests conducted by NSW Fisheries with local commercial fishers last Sunday, November 17, showed the prawns had grown significantly over the past few weeks.”

“As a result, we are now able to re-open the lake to prawn fishing tomorrow, Friday, November 22.”

Mr Dunn said the temporary ban helped ensure a good supply of local prawns for the festive season.

“I congratulate the local commercial prawn fishers for working cooperatively with NSW Fisheries to achieve this positive outcome,” he said.

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