By Femi Akinola
Marine ecosystems include coastal freshwater and mangrove swamps, creeks, coastal rivers, estuaries, bays, and nearshore and offshore waters.
The ecological zones around and associated with these habitats are also included as marine ecosystems.
The ocean covers a large chunk of the earth’s surface and is the largest ecosystem in the world. The ocean and our coastal waters are invaluable to the survival of the earth, planet, and species.
According to Dr. Charles Onyema, an Associate Professor, Marine Biologist, and Environmentalist at the University of Lagos, these marine ecosystems provide seafood and livelihood for millions of people.
In addition, the marine ecosystems provide medicine for the treatment of various diseases, shipping and water transport, energy, and tourism and support coastal economies across the world.
The oceans also provide and support new economic opportunities, climate stability, and coastal habitats that reduce risks from coastal storms and flooding.
Resources from the world’s marine ecosystems are valuable commodities and substances found within these habitats. Humans harvest the benefits of these ecosystems for food, fuel, and many other products.
Nigeria is a maritime state. The nation is endowed with rich and diverse maritime ecosystems and resources. Nine out of the 36 states in the country have coastlines with the Atlantic Ocean.
It is important to note that over 25% of the Nigerian population inhabits coastal states like Lagos State, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Rivers, and others.
Before Nigeria came into being, the people of the coastal area of the pre-Nigeria nation continually used the resources that the marine environment offered. They harvested the benefits of the ecosystems for food, fuel, and many valuable products.
The marine resources in Nigeria, as they are all over the world, can be divided into two categories: renewable (living) and non-renewable (non-living) resources, according to Onyeama.
Renewable resources refer to many types of marine creatures, both plants and animals. In Nigeria, they include, but are not limited to, coastal plants, including aquatic macrophytes, mangrove plants, shores, and riparian vegetation, among other plant-related resources.
These can be used as fuel, wood, smoking fish for making mats and other related materials as well as raw materials for some categories of industries. It is important to note that plant communities also provide sanctuaries and marine protected areas with natural aesthetics that have tourism values and are notably exploited by coastal states. In this regard, as a source of revenue.
Notably, fish stock in Nigerian coastal waters includes the bonga, tilapia, threadfins, tunas, tuna-like fishes, and finfish among others. Finfish, according to experts, provide around 16% of the animal protein consumed by people around the world. Importantly, dependence on seafood for protein is much higher in poor coastal nations of the world.
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