Fiddling with nature' plan revives fears over Lake St Lucia's future

Fiddling with nature' plan revives fears over Lake St Lucia's future as researchers debate whether human intervention should resume to restore ecological balance. Lake St Lucia stretches about 70 kilometers and forms Africa's largest estuarine lake system, within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first World Heritage Site. The lake hosts diverse wildlife and serves as a key nursery for coastally important species, yet its health has deteriorated for decades. A quartet of local estuarine researchers recently urged regular, human-driven breaching, dredging, and other management actions to restore flows and fish recruitment. They argue that passive restoration has failed to reverse degradation.