الفهرس 
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Abstract
A main feature of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast is the system of
coastal lagoons stretching along the major part of it. These are Lake Mariut,
Lake Edku, Lake Burullus and Lake Manzalah from west to east respectively
and known as the northern Egyptian Delta Lakes.
The northern Egyptian Delta Lakes are varying in their surface areas;
with Lake Mariut being the smallest (about 55 krrr’) and Lake Manzalah being
the largest (about 700 km”). The surface areas of the lakes are highly affected
by the high rates of land reclamation around their borders, resulting in a
continuous reduction for their total areas. The shallowness of these lakes and
the rich food supply they contain render them excellent feeding and breeding
ground for many fish species (Said, 1992).
Three of these lakes are connected to the Mediterranean Sea through
outlets: Lake Edku through Boughaz El-Maadiya, Lake Burullus through
Boughaz El-Burullus and Lake Manzalah through Boughaz -El-Gamil. The
lakes receive drainage water through agricultural drains as well as fresh water
from the Nile River.
Lake Manzalah and Lake Mariut are the most polluted lakes. Lake
Manzalah receives all the waste drainage of the Capital, Cairo, while Lake
Mariut receives industrial wastes from the different factories situated around
the lake’s borders.
According to statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture, the total fish catch
landed from these lakes constituted about 53% of the total fish yield of the
country (Said, 1992).
The importance of Lake Burullus rises from being the second largest
lake in the northern Egyptian Delta Lakes system after Lake Manzalah. It is
also considered to be the least polluted lake.