Oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria is geared towards meeting the energy need of its populace and also generate revenue. However, oil field chemicals used in oil and gas activities are sources of environmental pollution, causing various degrees of harm especially to the aquatic components of the environment. Most ascertained detrimental effects of oil field chemicals on organisms are generally laboratory based investigations. These have not considered synergistic and antagonists effects of these chemicals under various environmental conditions on organisms and the ecosystem. A research that incorporates both field and laboratory studies to investigate the effects of oil field chemicals in the natural environment would be of great use to provide a wholistic data for scientists. Such research would consider both synergistic and/or antagonistic effects of these chemicals under the natural environment with its varing conditions. The result obtained from such study would significantly enhance -integrated catchment management (ICM), further limnological studies/assessment, information for policy redress on contamination and pollution abatement, and remedial activities to ensure a sustainable healthy environment.

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A study of Ten coastal communities along the Cross River, Qua Iboe River and Jaja Creek (all in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria) was conducted to: Identify and Geo-reference affected navigable channels in Akwa Ibom State; create a map of affected navigable channels in the state; qualitatively and quantitatively characterize floating marine debris in affected channels; Delineate the affected channels; and create awareness among coastal communities on marine litter dangers. The data for average depth revealed that the water body in Essene had the highest depth (13m) while Ufak had the least (3m); average width was highest (850m) at Akpam Nfrugam and Enitan while the least width (250m) was recorded in Ikot Ibritan; and the average flow velocity was highest (1.1 m/s) at Akpam Nfrugam and Essene, least (0.4 m/s) at Edik Ipa and Akuakpa Urang. The result of the characterization of the suspended debris showed that the debris comprised of plastic, nylon, can, foil and "others". "Others" was made up of mainly nypa palm and unidentified objects. Nylon

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One hundred Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus were randomly selected from the New Calabar River to determine the effect of size and sex on the endoparasitaemia in the blood, heart, liver, kidney and Gastro-intestinal tract. The formol-ether concentration method was used to examine the samples. Data revealed an overall parasitaemia of 18 (18.0%). The size classes 301-400mm, 201-300mm and >169-200mm had 5(55.6%), 12(15.2%) and 1(11.1%) respectively while the size class <169mm had no infection. Sex related endoparasitaemia was statistically not significant (p>0.05), however the females had 11(20.4%) and the males had 7(15.2%) of their respective populations. Site specific endoparasitaemia showed that the gastro-intestinal tract harboured the highest (38.9%) parasitic load, while the kidney had the lowest (5.6%). The heart had (33.3%) and the blood and liver had (11.1%) parasitic load each. Fourteen (14) parasite species from 5 phyla were recovered from the fish samples namely: Protozoa-Coccidia sp. and Thelohanellus piriformis; Platyhelminth-Ascocotyle ceolostoma, Sanguinicola inermis, Sanguinicola armata, Atalostropion sp., Silurotaenia siluri, Tetrochetus coryphaenae, Biacetabulum appendiculatum and Tetraonchus monenteron; Nematoda-Strongyloides sp.; Acanthocephala-Acanthocephalus lucii and Neoechinorhynchus rutili; and Crustacea-Alebion elegans. Endoparasitaemia in the sampled population was influenced by the physico-chemical properties of the water body which is greatly affected by the intrusion of salt into the river due to its tidal conditions. However, the relatively high endoparasitaemia in the gastro-intestinal tract was associated with the nutrient rich ambience of the intestine which may allow easy establishment and multiplication of parasites.

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