ROUGH seas, spring tides and a strong easterly wind has caused the sand bank that separates Lake St Lucia and the Indian Ocean to breach for the first time in five years. Last Friday (March 2) the mouth was breached by the sea in five places with channels that have widened to 80m each. This has resulted in a strong inflow of sea water into the lake system, which has substantially increased the lake water’s salinity. A large number of fish, prawn and crab larvae will also enter the lake, with some fish moving out of the lake into the sea as well. Andrew Zaloumis, ceo of the Wetland Park Authority says: “This natural breaching of the mouth is positive- ecologically, and for tourism and community livelihoods.” Chana Viljoen (chanav@nowmedia.co.za)
