A Camden Haven resident captured dead fish at Lake Cathie at about 5pm on Monday, February 25. 

The video was reportedly taken at the back end of the lake, west of the little bridge at Kenwood Drive. 

It comes after council received a report of dead fish in the vicinity of the Perch Hole, one of the estuaries associated with Lake Cathie in January. 

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has no plans to open Lake Cathie to the ocean despite the trigger point being reached for an artificial opening.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council director Melissa Watkins said the Lake Cathie Opening Strategy contains several opening triggers. 

“One such trigger is when the water level is less than 0.2m AHD and salinity is greater than 40 ppt,” she said. 

“The current water level is 0.05m AHD and salinity is between 40 and 42 ppt, therefore a lake opening trigger has been reached.”

However the lake will not be opened by council due to several risks associated with the action.  

Ms Watkins said the risks include low lake water levels which limit the success of an excavated channel remaining open, the likelihood of excessive sand build up in the recently dredged area and potential risk for red weed to enter and become stuck in the lake should it naturally close quickly.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has been contacted for comment.