Agricultural runoff pushes Turkey's largest lagoon toward ecological collapse

Akyatan Lagoon, the biggest lagoon in Turkey, is under threat from intensive agriculture in the Çukurova region. Drainage channels deliver high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and other chemicals, prompting rampant aquatic plant growth that dies and releases organic matter, creating a self-sustaining pollution loop. Oxygen levels rise during daylight photosynthesis but fall to zero after dark, causing young fish to die and algae to proliferate.

Faculty members at Çukurova University are measuring physical, chemical and microbiological parameters, including microplastics, while urging stricter enforcement of environmental rules. Government bodies such as the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry are drafting management plans, and researchers are seeking nature-based solutions highlighted at COP31.