THE PRESSURE TO DEVELOP LAGOONS FOR FISH AND SHELLFISH PRODUCTION HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE NUMBER OF SCHEMES FOR LAGOON DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT ALSO HAS GROWN, RANGING FROM ELABORATE WATER CONTROL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING DAMS AND DIVERSION CANALS FOR FRESH WATER WITH SEA GATES TO HOLD BACK THE OCEAN, TO SIMPLE GATES TO PREVENT FISH FROM ESCAPING ONCE THEY HAVE ENTERED. LAGOONS UNDOUBTEDLY WILL BE EXPLOITED AND MANAGED EVEN MORE INTENSIVELY. THUS, A STRONG RESEARCH BASE IS NECESSARY TO AVOID ECOLOGICALLY AND SOCIALLY DESTRUCTIVE PRACTICES AT WORST AND TO PROMOTE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES THAT FIT BROAD BIOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CONTEXTS.