1.

INTRODUCTION

Lagoons are shallow brackish bodies of water separated from the ocean by a barriers
island or sand bank and connected at least intermittently to the open ocean by one or
more restricted tidal inlets, found on all continents, usually oriented parallel to the coast,
Lagoon system vary greatly on size from as small as hectare in area to more than
10,000km2 eg Lagoa dos patos, Brazil) ) and north America (17.6%), the coast of Asia
(13.8%) south America 12.2% Australia 11.4% and Europe (5.3%) The most extensive
stretch of coastal lagoons is along the atlantics and Gulf coastal united states, where day
cover ~ 2.800 km of shoreline however there also common along the eastern coasts of
South America and India, Southern Britain and western France, the western coast of
Africa, and south eastern Australia as well as along the shores of the Baltic, Black,
Caspian and Mediterranean seas, In Nigeria, there are ten lagoons found only in southwestern Nigeria (Lagos) They are the Ologe, Yewa, Badagry, Iyagbe, Kuramo, Onijedi,
Lagos, Epe, Lekki and Mahin lagoons these lagoons run parallel to the Gulf of Guinea
coastline over a distance of about 237km. Onijedi lagoon is the only closed lagoon in the
region while the Kuramo lagoon is seasonally closed and flows into the sea in the wet
season via the Kuramo All the other eight, are open lagoons. A lagoon may or may not be
subject to tidal mixing, and salinity can vary from that of a coastal fresh-water lake to a
hyper saline lagoon, depending on the hydrologic balance. Lagoons formed as a result of
rising sea level mostly during the Holocene and the building of coastal barriers by marine
processes. They are often highly productive and ideal systems for aquaculture projects
but are, at the same time, highly stressed by anthropogenic inputs and human activities.
Lagoons are common in the coastal environment of many islands. They are areas of water
with some link to the sea, but sufficiently cut off or protected so that there are special
environmental conditions inside them. They therefore present special problems for
environmental management. The types of lagoon depends on the form and origin of the
island and often the stage of coral reef development, since it is often coral reefs growing
up to the surface that cut off and protect an area of water, making a lagoon. Even a
fringing reef may have a depression between the reef crest and the shore, forming a
narrow shallow lagoon. A barrier reef can be up to several kilometers offshore, creating a
large lagoon which may be tens of meters deep and contain island and patch reefs.
(Nwilo, 1997).

Figure 1: Lagoon system showing Lagos Lagoon

Plate 1: Image of the Lagos Lagoon

Source: Onyema (2009)

Source: UNEP (1998)

The Lagos Lagoon is a major geographical feature in Lagos, being the largest of the
network of lagoons that stretch from Republic of Benin through to the Nigerian Niger
Delta. Parts of the lagoon waterfront have degenerated into slums, with mainly shanties at
various points, wood preservation, markets and sand dredging activities, robbing the area
of potential urban tourism revenue. Growing statistics indicate financial gains in
exploiting water tourism. In recognition of this, the Lagos Government is pursuing an
aggressive tourism and waterfront development strategy for Lagos Metropolis. To

determine the place of landscape features of the Lagos Lagoon on its viability for
tourism, the research evaluates the lagoons landscape characteristics and answers
questions of landscape perception of the area (Ojolowo, 2012).
Lagos lagoon is a major water body in the Lagos metropolis. It cuts across the southern
part of the metropolis, linking the Atlantic Ocean (in the west and south) and Lekki
Lagoon (in the east). It is about 6354.708 sq. km in area and 285 km in perimeter.

Area:

208sq km

Depth :

Average of 1m (except for areas that are dredged)

Length :

50km

Width:

13km

Bridges:

Third mainland bridge, Eko bridge, Carter bridge

It also provides a good

platform for inland

waterways transportation which has

potentialities of reducing transportation problems in Lagos metropolis and a place of

abode for the some of the indigenous fishing communities such as the Ilajes and Ijaws
(Stilts housing). The Lagos lagoon is one of the four major lagoons in the Nigerian
coastal system, and a significant tourist attraction centre in Lagos State. Due to the level
of primary production in the lagoon, it is usually inhabited periodically by fish species of
fresh water and marine origins, in search of food and good nursery ground (Emmanuel,
2010). It has been reported that about 34% of fishes observed in this ecosystem are of
freshwater origin and the remaining being marine. Mullets, sardine and bonga
(Clupeidae) were classified as permanent fishes in this habitat. The fisheries productivity
of the Lagos Lagoon system is put above 75 kg/ha/year and the fishermen from the
Nigerian coastal lagoon and estuaries contribute more than 50% of the current domestic
fish production of about 800,000 metric tons. It was also reported that about 28 metric
tonnes/ha/year of oysters are produced annually from this ecosystem. As a result of
lagoons rich fauna, especially in fishes, fishing activities are usually witnessed on a daily
basis. Recently, the state government is proposing using the Lagos Lagoon for cage
culture as a form of contribution to food security and research. Fish and fisheries
products are generally regarded as an important part of a healthy diet. In the developing

Countries, fish and fisheries products apart from being a source of cheap animal protein,
are widely consumed as they have high quality protein and other essential nutrients, and
are low in saturated fat while containing Omega 3 fatty acids. In Nigeria, most
investigations of the Lagos Lagoon have focused on the sediments and benthic
communities, the diversity and density of macrobenthic fauna in the western part of the
lagoon, trend of heavy metals concentrations are in the Lagos Lagoon, the food and
feeding interrelationships of the fishes and the biology of some fishes and the fisheries.
There is however, a need to update most of these studies and provide current information
on the diversity of the edible fishery and the effects of pollutants on the health and
abundance of these organisms inhabiting the Lagos Lagoon. By virtue of its position, the
Lagos Lagoon is surrounded by the densely populated (about fifteen million people) and
highly industrialized Lagos metropolis, making it a convenient dumping site for
numerous industrial and domestic wastes, an estimated 10,000 m3 of industrial effluents
are discharged into the Lagos Lagoon per day. These estimates also confirmed that the
industries are the major source of metal contaminants in the drains, streams and lagoon,
since the graded prominence of metal types was similar in the sampled effluents and
aquatic systems (Adelegan, 2004).
The continued discharge of all sorts of untreated waste materials into the lagoon threatens
the state of ecological equilibrium and diversity of fisheries resources in the lagoon, the
use of the lagoon as a dump for waste materials has reduced annual fish production in the
Lagos Lagoon by over five folds between 1970 and 1990. Therefore, there is the need for
more studies to establish the present state of pollution in the Lagos Lagoon, the
diversity of biological resources and the level of pollutants such as heavy metals which
can be detrimental to the health of the consumers (Kusemiju, 1981).
Lagos lagoon is a water body in the heart of the metropolis. Lagos
lagoon cuts across the southern part of the metropolis, linking the
Atlantic Ocean (in the west and south) and Lekki lagoon (in the east). It
is about 6354.708 sq.km in area and 285km in perimeter. products are
generally regarded as an important part of a healthy diet. In the developing countries, fish
and fisheries products apart from being a source of cheap animal protein, are widely
consumed as they have high quality protein and other essential nutrients, and are low in
saturated fat while containing Omega 3 fatty acids. In Nigeria, most investigations of the

Lagos Lagoon have focused on the sediments and benthic communities, the diversity and
density of macrobenthic fauna in the western part of the

Lagoon, trend of heavy metals concentrations are in the Lagos Lagoon, the food and
feeding interrelationships of the fishes and the biology of some fishes and the fisheries.
There is however, a need to update most of these studies and provide current information
on the diversity of the edible fishery and the effects of pollutants on the health and
abundance of these organisms inhabiting the Lagos Lagoon. By virtue of its position, the
Lagos Lagoon is surrounded by the densely populated (about fifteen million people) and
highly industrialized Lagos metropolis, making it a convenient dumping site for
numerous industrial and domestic wastes, an estimated 10,000 m3 of industrial effluents
are discharged into the Lagos Lagoon per day. These estimates also confirmed that the
industries are the major source of metal contaminants in the drains, streams and lagoon,
since the graded prominence of metal types was similar in the sampled effluents and
aquatic systems (Adelegan, 2004). The Lagos lagoon system is the largest of the four
lagoon systems of the Gulf of Guinea (Chukwu, 2002). This aquatic ecosystem is habitat
to a variety of biota which include the plankton, nekton and benthos in a complex trophic
interrelationship (Emmanuel and Onyema, 2007). The Lagos lagoon ecosystem is habitat
to a variety of biota which include the plankton, nekton and benthos in a complex trophic
interrelationship (Emmanuel and Onyema, 2007).
According to by Onyema (2009) citing Oyenekan (1988), there are five benthic
communities in the Lagos lagoon. They are the Mangroove, Pachymelania, Estuarine
Amphioplus, Venus and Estuarine rock communities.
The pachymelania community of the Lagos lagoon included macro invertebrate species
such as Pachymelania aurita, Iphigenia truncata, Neritina glabrata, Anadara senilis,
Semifuscus

morio,

Pachymelania

aurita,

Dosinia

isocardia,

Aloides

trigona,

Brachiostoma nigeriense, Glycera convolute, Nereis succinea, Lumbrinereis sp.,

Diopatra neapolitanea, Clibinarius africanus, Heteropanoe caparti, Tympanotonus
fuscatus, Tagellus angulatus and Cuitellus tenuis.
Chysaoramelanaster and Sarsiaeximia.

FIN AND SHELL FISH

Common fin and shellfish in the Lagos lagoon include Four species of cichlidae were
identified. They are Sarotherodon melanotheron, Hemichromis fasicatus and Tilapia
guineensis.

Other species include

Clarias gariepinus Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus

Caranx hippos, Mugil cephalus, Bathygobius soporator,

Eleotris vitata, Batanga

lebretonis and Gobioides africanus, Ophichthus rufus and Liza falcipinnis.

Some

common shellfishes were Callinectes amnicola, Penaeus notialis, Macrobrachium

vollenhoevenii and Macrobrachium macrobrachion.
The continued discharge of all sorts of untreated waste materials into the lagoon threatens
the state of ecological equilibrium and diversity of fisheries resources in the lagoon, the
use of the lagoon as a dump for waste materials has reduced annual fish production in the
Lagos Lagoon by over five folds between 1970 and 1990. Therefore, there is the need for
more studies to establish the present state of pollution in the Lagos Lagoon, the
diversity of biological resources and the level of pollutants such as heavy metals which
can be detrimental to the health of the consumers (Kusemiju, 1981).
The high and variable temperatures in a lagoon may limit the kinds of plants and animals
that can lie there. However, in a lagoon, the salinity can also be more variable. Heavy
rainfall may dilute the water of the lagoon, making it less salty. Water draining off the
kind ,or coming down rivers and streams may also dilute lagoon. The less the lagoon is
connected to the ocean, the more extreme the effect will be. Sometimes the fresh water
will even float in a layer on top of the salt water, and you can see a blurred zone where
the two mix (Ladipo, 2011). If a closed lagoon received a lot of sun and very little rain,
than the opposite may take place. The evaporation of the lagoon water can increase the
salinity well above that of the surrounding ocean. Again, the kinds of marine life that can
live with wide changes in salinity are limited. Water movement can also be more limited
and more variable in lagoons. Waves may enter the lagoon through passes or channels, or
they may occasionally wash over the reef (Udael al 1986). As the tide rises and flow,
there may be flows of water into and out of the lagoon, with very strong currents in
passes, Large lagoons may have currents driven by the prevailing winds.

Lagoons that are open to the sea may have many of the same corals, fish and other sea
life as well as the ocean itself (Pedro, 2004). As the conditions in a lagoon get more

variable and more extreme, the number of kinds of things that can live there will get
smaller and smaller, although those things that can live there may get to be more
common. The life of lagoons may be more productive and abundant than in the sea
outside if there are nutrients that go into it from the land, or if it is able to accumulate
nutrients because it is protected. The shallow lagoon bottom is often covered with beds of
sea grass or sea weed and reef corals may grow on the lagoon edges and on patch reefs
within it. It may provide important breeding or feeding areas for fish or other animals
outside the lagoon as well. Some lagoons support fisheries that are very important for the
island. They may have bait fish that can be used to fish while some certain lagoons have
important beds of pearl oyster others may have shell fish that are collected locally for
food (Lawal, 2008). If a lagoon becomes too closed, however, there may not be enough
water exchange and the lagoon may become stagnant and support much less life. There
may even be no oxygen left on the bottom for animals to live, because the lagoon
environment is often less managed there may be big changes in the kinds of plants and
animals that grow there something may multiply until it seems to be everywhere then it
may die off, to be replaced by something else. These changes may follow the season or
they may happen without any apparent reason (Oyewo, 2004).
Lagoons like the other parts of the coastal system may go through important changes over
a long period of time the coral reef may grow up and cut them off more and more from
the ocean (Brown, 2012). They may gradually fill up with sediment until they become
part of the land. If the island is sinking, a lagoon may gradually lose its protective barriers
and become part of the ocean shoreline, if the island is rising, the lagoon may be lifted up
until its bottom is dry land, sometimes a natural change may seem sudden, as when a
growing reef finally stops the flow of the ocean water into a lagoon.
Wastes and run off from the land may also collect in a lagoon and pollute it. Some islands
have had cholera epidemics spread by the pollution of seafood caught in the lagoon.
Lagoons are particularly vulnerable to the development of towns or cities around their
edge (UNEP, 2004).

Lagoons are expenses of shallow coastal salt water of varying salinity and water volume,
wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or less frequently by rocks.
Salinity may vary from brackish water to hypersanility depending on rainfall, evaporation
and through the addition of fresh sea water from storms, temporary flooding of the sea in
winter or tidal exchange. In addition, salinity is one of the major factors that determine
the types of plants and animal that lives in a lagoon.
The characteristics of many lagoons (e.g. low fishing or high retention times, fine
sediments stratification species restricted to lagoons). In lagoons the low fishing times
means that internal processes (biological and geochemical) will have a significant effect
(Pearce, 2012). Biological processes will include increased phytoplankton growth in
response to nutrient inputs, subsequent death and retention of the resulting organic
particulate matter and retention of nutrient arising from breakdown of this organic
material. Particulate nitrogen in the forum of detritus , for example, from benthic and
floating macrophytes that respond opportunistically to nutrient enrichment, is also likely
to contribute to the internal source of nutrients for subsequent to take by algae. Other
examples that contribute to a perpetuating state that affect a lagoon include reduction in
benthic pelagic coupling, changes to benthic food webs and the uncoupling on
nitrification identification (Onyema, 2006). As a consequence of the few case studies of
lagoons and observations in similar systems to lagoons in conjunction with the
characteristics of lagoons, it is concluded that many, if not most saline lagoons would
have a low recovery potential from water quality impact and eutrophication impacts
within accepted management and planning time frames.
After a long day in the full sun, lagoon temperatures can rise quite high. If the lagoon is
deep enough and the water mixing caused by the wind does not reach to the bottom, then
a thermocline may develop (UNESCO, 2009). This is when the warm surface water lies
on top of the deep cooler water, and the sharp difference in temperature between the two
keeps on exchange of water from taking place. If you dive through a thermocline, you
can feel the water suddenly get colder Lagoons function as nurseries for shrimp and
recreational fisheries, nurseries of organic matter to adjacent coastal food chains and
enormous sources of valuable nutrient. Their physical stability helps to prevent shoreline
erosion, shielding inland areas from severe damage during hurricanes and tidal waves.

Transportation (boats and canoes are involve in transporting goods and humans from one
part to another).
Fishing activity (fishing operation is purely at artisanal level).
An ideal centre for education and scientific research.
Lagoons can also create avenues for harbours and ports development As natural
environment of fishing activity is always very high however, fishing operation is purely
at artisanal level.
Recreational uses of lagoons involve boating in lakes and natural swimming pools mainly
because of their shelter and consequent lack of strong wave action.
Lagoons can be considered as models of the larger marine ecosystem.
Lagoons can also create avenue for harbours and ports development.
Importance of Lagoons
1. Coastal lagoons have exceptional ecologic, recreational and commercial value
2. They provide diverse habitats (open water, submerged aquatic vegetation, creeks
and fringing wet land)
3. They serve as nursery, feeding and refuge areas for numerous estuaries, marine
and terrestrial orgs many marine sp. Of recreational and commercial imp. Spend at
least a portion of their life cycles in lagoon and adjoining coastal wetland habitats.
4. Aside from the value of their fisheries, coastal lagoons are used by humans for
aquaculture, electric power generation, biotechnology, transportation and shipping
industries inject billions of dollars/naira into the economies of coastal region
worldwide.
5. Lagoons serve as number of vital physical and chemical functions involving the
trampy and transformation of nutrient and wastes, filtering of contaminant, and
biogeochemical cycling of substance. They therefore can strongly influence the
enital quality of coastal H2os.
6. Lagoons also protect coastal watershed are buffering the infrastructure from the
damaging effects of storms, floods and erosion.

On the aspect of conservation, it is important we manage and conserve biological

diversity and succession in our coastal waters in order to avail ourselves of the capacity
to counteract negative impacts caused by human beings. A lot more effort needs to be
made in order to create awareness about the environment. We should learn from
experiences of the developed world where they are relatively poor in biodiversity because
they have gained their current quality of life at the expense of their biodiversity of
neighbouring countries. People should develop positive attitudes and conserving
behaviour towards the natural resources.

2.0

TYPES OF LAGOONS
Forms and types of Lagoons (Base on Classification).

Kjefre (1986, 1994) classified coastal lagoon into 3 geomorphic types base on H2O
exchange with the coastal ocean basically into 3 base on classification are:Choked 2. Restricted 3. Leaky lagoons
1. Choked lagoons consist of a series of interconnected elliptical H2O bodies with a
single ocean entrance channel or in let to the this sea. The Lagoa Patos in brazil is
an example.
2. Restricted lagoons:- Consist of two or more entrance channels or hilets that
connect to a wide, expansive, H20 body usually oriented shore parallel the
Barnegat Bay-little egg Harbor estuary in New Jersey (USA) is an example.
3. Leaky Lagoons:- Have multiple entrance chained leading to an elongated shore
paratell H2o body. Int wadden sea, the neither lands is an exemple.
Other example of Lagoos are:
-

Palico sound in Usa New Jersey Lagoon

Southern California Lagoon
Lagoon of Nile delta - Taxas Lagoos
Venise lagoon Lagos African

The forms and genesis of coastal lagoons and barrier island systems enclsing them is
basically depends on the sea level history of a region. Rising sea level such as during
the Holvcene, promotes the formation of these system. The coastal extension of
spitsisan important mechanism for the development of barrier beaches and lagoons
during periods of stable or slowly changing sea level. Sand bars may form across
narrow inlet channels either seasonally or over longer periods of time. These
ephemeral, features impede H2o exchange between the lagoonal basin and other
ocean incrrasing H2o residence times and changing biogechmical and biotic processes
in the shollow H2o bodies lagoons are susceptible to nutrient enrichment and toxic
pollutant inputs thtat can culminate in eutrophication and contamination problems.
Seasional closure of coastal lagoons cendrama tically alter salinity with oligohalve to
nearly imnectic conditions occurring during periods of high precipitation and riverine
inflow nd mesohaline to even hyper saline conditions during periods of drought, low
riverine inflow nd evaporation. Salinity in coastal lagoon can span an entered
spectrum from fresh H2o to hypersalinu level.

3.0

FACTORS AFFECTING LAGOONS

Pollution is the introduction by man directly or indirectly of substances or energy into the
aquatic environment resulting in such deleterious effect as to harm living resources,
hazard to human health, hindrance to aquatic activities including fishing and impairment
for use of water and reduction of amenities. The major sources of pollution in the lagos
lagoon are land based.(onyema et al.,2003). However, they may be grouped into two
main sources depending on their mode of entry into the water
i.
ii.

Point source (direct discharge)

Non-point source (diffuse).

The point source include the domestic waste, human and solid waste, waste arising from
petroleum related industries, commercial and industrial activities. The non-point source
includes agricultural runoff containing nutrients and pesticides, urban run-off and soil
erosion. These pollutants can be either natural or unnatural substances and can be
grouped into four types depending on their nature and mode of existence,
i.

Physical pollutants: including discarded objects, weeds, silt clay, other sediments

ii.

and decaying organic matters.

Chemical pollutants: toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, nickel, organic

iii.

pollutant; pesticides, phenols.

Microbial pollutants: microorganism resulting from pollution (sewage) of waters

iv.

e.g Escherichia coli.

Radioactive pollutants: include radioactive substances such as radium 226.

Listed below are the major sources of land based pollution

Domestic waste
Industrial wastes
Agricultural runoff
Urban runoff
Solid and human waste

Domestic wastes

Sewage pollution of surface waters (lagos lagoon) is a common and consistent

occurrence. The carter bridge end of the lagos harbour served as a disposal site for
untreated domestic sewage in the lagos municipality. For years, the deterioration and
etrophication of the lagos lagoon water have been steadily accelerating which is primarily
due to the extensive pollution by large quantities of industrial and domestic sewage
introduced into the water. The abundance and distribution of faecal bacterial in the lagos
lagoon is influenced by the salinityof the water. Lower counts of E. coli were observed at
the southward area of the lagoon which reccieved seawater from the harbour, while
higher counts were recorded in areas which receive freshwater from river ogun. Also
seasonal variations were observed in the distribution of faecal indicator bacterial in lagos
lagoon. Higher counts were observed during the rainy season when the salinity of the
water is low and the lagoon receives runoff from land.
Ekundayo (1977) highlighted the effects of sewage pollution of the lagos lagoon on the
flora and fauna and also associated hazards to human health. He observed that major
organic components of sewage arepolysaccharides, polypeptides and fats, which are
degraded into organic salts, co2 and water as a result of metabolic activities of microorganisms.
Industrial Waste
Different industries produce different kinds of products and the type of industrial activity
determines the pollutant generated. Of all the industrial effluents from various industries,
the waste waters from the petroleum related industry and oil spillage constitute a major
land based source of pollution of Nigerian coastal waters. Activities of crude oil
exploration and exploitation are to a very large extent going on in all parts of the Niger
delta. Oil spills originate from sources which include; oil wells, refineries, oil terminals
and jetties.
Other sources of oil pollution include petrochemical plants, numerous oil servicing
companies which pollute the waters with spent oil grease and other chemical mixtures
(adhekpukoli, 1997).

Plate 4: Fish death associated to chemical poisoning from industrial pollution.

Source: Self acquired (2015)

Agricultural runoff
The campaigning for increased food production in Nigeria has resulted in the
establishment of large farms by a number of individual and companies. Large scale
agriculture often involves the use of fertilizers for improved growth of crops and
pesticides for control of pests. These fertilizers could be a source of water pollution
especially during rainy seasons when they are washed from farmlands into wetlands.
Lagos has some odour and taste in May, 1986 and this was traced to the eutrophication of
ogun river after a heavy downpour in the rainy season. Fertilizers from agric land were
washed into the river water which later showed proliferation of algae. (Adegbite, 2005).
Urban run-off
Run-off from urban watershed is usually transported in separate systems (separated
from sewage) or combined systems (combined with sewage). During and following
storm, stormwater and combined sewer overflows (csos) can contribute the same
constituents as sewage and also in reltively high concentrations as well. Much of the
nutrients comes from animal faeces, fertilizers applied to gardens and lawns garbage,
dirts from markets, washings of vehicles. Detergent effluents in the lagos lagoon affects
the algal and bacterial populations in the environment.
Solid and human waste
Solid wastes in urban areas are either of domestic or industrial origin. These solid wastes
are not properly disposed in any organised manner; with disposal practical varying from
incineration land-filling, or compacting and dumping into drains, rivers, creeks and
lagoons. Woodwaste from the okobaba sawmill industry is a persistent source of pollution
to the lagos lagoon (akpata, 1986), however observed that sawdust pollution enhance the
germination of some fungal spores in the lagos lagoon.

4.0 ADAPTATION OF ORGANISM IN LAGOONS

5.0 PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PARAMETER OF THE LAGOONS

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL FACTORS VARIATIONS IN LAGOONS
PHYSICAL

Tides
Temperature
Currents and waves
Depth
Transparency
Colour
Current
CHEMICAL

Salinity
pH
Nutrients
Conductivity
Dissolved Oxygen

6.1.1 MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIES ON HOW TO IMPROVE

ENVIRONMENTAL STATE OF LAGOOS
The following management strategies are often proposed to improve the
environmental state estuaries and coastal lagoons:
Increase monitoring and research to identify impacts and to develop remedial actions that
restore natural environmental conditions.
Pursue open space acquisition and smart development in coastal watersheds to protect
habitat. Implement effective restoration efforts to revitalize altered habitat.
Formulate tighter regulations to limit nutrient and chemical contaminant inputs to estuaries and lagoons.
Establish more estuarine reserves to minimize anthropogenic impacts, and to provide protected areas for basic and applied research.
Improve the management of estuarine fisheries to preclude excessive use or overharvest
commercially and recreationally important finfish and shellfish populations.
Monitor, assess, and remediate water quality and habitat degradation associated with aqu;
culture operations.
Increase the interactions between scientists, resource managers, and policy makers It
ensure informed decisions regarding estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Develop education and outreach programs that inform students and the general public the
importance of maintaining healthy and viable estuarine and lagoonal environments.
Organizations and bodies such as
Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA)
Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)
Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR)
All these bodies including Government ministries of transportation, works and
agriculture have a key role to play in the protection and conservation of environment.

7.0

CONCLUTION

As significant as the Lagoons are, it has not been well conserved so far, the
government should look into the fisheries productivity, making the Lagos lagoon a
better source of income.

8.0

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OUTLINE
1.0

INTRODUCTION
Definition of lagoons
Importance of lagoons

2.0

TYPES AND FORM OF LAGOONS (Base on classification)

3.0

FACTORS AFFECTING LAGOON

4.0

ADAPTATION OF LIFE IN LAGOONS

5.0

PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PARAMETER OF THE LAGOONS

6.0

MANAGEMENT

AND

STRATEGIES

ON

ENVIRONMENTAL STATE OF LAGOONSS

7.0

CONCLUSION

8.0

REFERENCE

HOW

TO

IMPROVE