Loss of coastal lagoons

Destruction of coastal wetlands

Nature

Loss of coastal lagoons refers to the degradation, reduction, or complete disappearance of shallow, brackish water bodies separated from the ocean by barriers such as sandbars or reefs. This environmental problem is driven by urbanization, pollution, land reclamation, and climate change, leading to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and diminished ecosystem services. Coastal lagoons serve as critical nurseries for marine life, natural water filters, and buffers against storms. Their loss threatens fisheries, water quality, and coastal protection, impacting both human communities and wildlife. Addressing this issue requires integrated management and conservation efforts.

Background

The loss of coastal lagoons emerged as a recognized global concern in the late 20th century, as rapid urbanization, land reclamation, and pollution led to the disappearance or severe degradation of these unique ecosystems. Scientific studies and international environmental assessments highlighted the accelerating rate of lagoon loss, particularly in densely populated regions, prompting increased attention from conservationists and policymakers to the ecological, economic, and cultural consequences of this phenomenon worldwide.

Incidence

Once, much of the Nile delta was composed of marshes and brackish lagoons, protected from the sea by sand bars. Today the lagoons have been reduced by drainage, and are increasingly polluted by sewage and pesticides. Lake Maryut, once a haven for wildlife depicted in Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet, is now a cesspit for the metropolis of Alexandria. It is a very rare rare when Nile waters are allowed to pass naturally through the lagoons into the sea. Fish catches there dropped by 85% in the 1970s. The sewers of Cairo, a city of 10 million people, empty into the equally foetid Manzala lagoon. The four surviving lagoons supply 100,000 tonnes of fish annually (two-thirds of Egypt's catch) and employ 100,000 people. But these may soon disappear with the sea erosion of the protective sandbars which are deprived of silt since the Aswan dam was built in 1964.

Claim

The loss of coastal lagoons is a critical environmental crisis that demands urgent attention. These unique ecosystems are irreplaceable nurseries for marine life, natural barriers against storms, and vital filters for pollutants. Their destruction accelerates biodiversity loss, endangers coastal communities, and worsens climate change impacts. Ignoring this issue is reckless and short-sighted—protecting coastal lagoons must be a top global priority if we care at all about our planet’s future.

Counter-claim

The so-called “loss of coastal lagoons” is vastly overstated and hardly a pressing issue. Nature constantly reshapes coastlines—lagoons come and go as part of this natural cycle. Compared to urgent global problems like poverty, disease, or energy shortages, worrying about a few shifting water bodies is trivial. Resources and attention should be directed toward real human needs, not sentimental concerns over ever-changing coastal features.