{"title":"The Legal Protection and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity for a Sustainable Future in Nigeria","authors":[{"name":"Chikanma Jessica Aleru","initials":"C.J.A.","affiliation":null,"orcid":null,"email":null}],"abstract":"Marine biodiversity underpins ecological stability, food security and the maritime trade on which national economies depend. Nigeria's marine and coastal endowment, particularly in the Niger Delta, faces acute pressure from oil pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing, unplanned urbanisation and the dumping of waste. Adopting a doctrinal methodology, this article examines the legal and regulatory framework for the protection of marine biodiversity in Nigeria and assesses how effectively it is implemented. It reviews the constitutional, statutory, regional and international instruments that bind Nigeria and the regulatory techniques they deploy (licensing, prohibition, sanction, punishment and quotas), with comparative lessons from the United States and the United Kingdom. The article finds that Nigeria does not lack law or institutions; it lacks effective enforcement. Penalties are in several instances negligible, or inverted in proportion to the harm caused; no statutory quota system exists; no marine protected area has been designated; technical capacity and inter-agency coordination are weak; and public awareness is low. The article recommends law reform with deterrent penalties, a statutory quota regime modelled on United States sanctuary regulation, the designation of marine protected areas, institutional capacity building, public education, and deeper regional and private-sector partnership.","keywords":["Environment","Environmental law","Marine Biodiversity; Marine Protected Areas; Blue Economy; Sustainability; Sustainable Development."],"publication_date":"2026-10-05","journal":{"name":"Global Insights Law Journal","issn":"3141-5717","issn_type":"Electronic"},"volume":"1","issue":"3","article_number":21,"pages":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null,"doi":"10.67588\/0004","url":"https:\/\/gilawjournal.com\/article\/the-legal-protection-and-conservation-of-marine-biodiversity-for-a-sustainable-future-in-nigeria","language":"English","document_type":"Article","publication_year":2026,"received_date":null,"accepted_date":null,"funding":[],"citations":["[1]Markus Salomon and Till Markus (eds), Handbook on Marine Environment Protection: Science, Impacts and Sustainable Management (Springer 2018) 3; Delia Paul, 'Protecting the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities', (2021) International Institute for Sustainable Development 2.","[2]UNCTAD, Review of Maritime Transport 2021 <https:\/\/unctad.org\/publication\/review-maritime-transport-2021> accessed 17 January 2025.","[3]United Nations Environment Programme, 'Sustainable Blue Economy' <https:\/\/www.unep.org\/topics\/ocean-seas-and-coasts\/ecosystem-based-approaches\/sustainable-blue-economy> accessed 17 January 2025.","[4]Michael Efeturi Ateme, 'Developing Marine and Coastal Resources in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges' (2021) 3(4) Maritime Technology and Research 336.","[5]Adaku Onyenucheya, 'Delayed Policy Implementation and Future of Nigeria's Blue Economy' The Guardian (Lagos, 13 November 2024) <https:\/\/guardian.ng\/business-services\/maritime\/delayed-policy-implementation-and-future-of-nigerias-blue-economy> accessed 17 January 2025.","[6]Chris Wigwe, Legal Research Methodology and Practice (Princeton and Associates Publishing 2019) 12.","[7]Marie-Louise Larsson, 'Legal Definitions of the Environment and of Environmental Damage' (2009) Stockholm Institute for Scandinavian Law 156.","[8]Gordon J MacDonald, 'Environment: Evolution of a Concept' (2003) 12(2) Journal of Environment and Development 151; Philippe Sands, Principles of International Environmental Law (2nd edn, CUP 2003) 15.","[9]National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act 2007 (No 25 of 2007), s 37.","[10]Environmental Impact Assessment Act, Cap E12 LFN 2004, s 63(1).","[11]Aldona Kip\u0101ne and Andrejs Vilks, 'Legal Framework for Environmental Protection in the Context of Sustainable Development' (2022) 11(4) European Journal of Sustainable Development 169.","[12]Sands P., ‘Principles of International Environmental Law’ (New York: Cambridge University Press 2nd Ed) 2003","[13][2019] 5 NWLR (Pt 1666) 518","[14]Cleverline T Brown, 'Sustaining the Nigerian Environment: The Place of Compliance and Enforcement in the Environmental Regulation of the Nigerian Petroleum Sector' (2020) Rivers State Ministry of Justice Journal of Law and Practice 14.","[15]United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1833 UNTS 3 (UNCLOS), Part XII.","[16]GESAMP, (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection). 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