Coila Lake
A large but shallow waterway with an Area Catchment of 48 km2 and a Waterway Area of 6.3 km2 with depths not exceeding 3 m, Coila Lake is located east of the Princes Highway and north of the town of Tuross Head. The entrance is located at the southern end of Bingie Beach. When the entrance is open, and Coila Creek (only substantial creek feeding the lake) is not in flood, water salinities similar to the ocean extend over the entire lake. The lake bed comprises mostly mud, with marine sand confined to the entrance. General * Notable habitat for
the "Greasyback" or Greenback prawn, a species which can
complete its life-cycle in enclosed waters without migrating to
the sea. |
Prawning in Coila Undertake any Google Search for "Coila" and "prawns" and you will find hit after hit referring to the famous prawns of Coila Lake. Talk to old timers of Tuross and you will here stories of families prawning under torch light through summer. It was a part of the tradition of celebrting summer holidays in Tuross that has now become just a memory of the past There used to be vast quanties of prawns in the lake to such an extent that it attracted commercial fisherfolk to haul net them regularly. Most often, after the plunder, there were prawns left for the families to potter around with. Up until 2009 it was allowable to under FISHERIES MANAGEMENT (GENERAL) REGULATION 1995 - REG 29 to net haul prawns on Coila Lake if the total length did not exceeding 75 metres; mesh throughout not less than 30 mm nor more than 36 mm; length of each hauling line not exceeding 130 metres. The total weight of prawns caught in Coila Lake fell dramatically in 1993–1994 because the mouth of the estuary closed to the ocean in January 1993 and these subsequent closure may possibly have contributed to the prawns fading away. The Coila Bar has been opened four times since the report of 1993-1994, once in 1995, 1998, 1999 and in 2002. Photos of the openings can be see here and here A Bayesian Analysis of NSW Eastern King Prawn Stocks South coast lakes get prawn stocking for Christmas - Nov, 2007 |
CoilaLake Further reading:
Brown and Root - Tuross and Coila Lake Estuary Study 2001
Tuross Estuary and Coila Lake Entrance Management Study
Community consultation in developing a management plan for Tuross Estuary and Coila Lake
VALUING OUR ESTUARIES by The Coastwatchers Association Inc
ESTUARY ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR COILA LAKE
Estuary Assessment 2000: Coila Lake
Coila Lake Entrance Management Policy - Kerryn Stephens presentation
In the News:
Wednesday, February 20, 2002 Coila Lake monitoring continues after heavy rain