Dragado en sistemas lagunares: Un balance crítico entre beneficios socioeconómicos y vulnerabilidad ambiental

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1981325180715

• Palavras-chave: Dragado, Sistemas lagunares, Impacto ambiental, Calidad del agua, Sostenibilidad

• Keywords: Dredging, Lagoon systems, Environmental impact, Water quality, Sustainability

• Abstract: Dredging is a common practice in coastal management, essential for maintaining and expanding navigation channels, mitigating floods, and restoring coastal areas. Despite its socioeconomic benefits, this activity exerts significant impacts on aquatic ecosystems. This chapter explores the different types of dredging, their purposes and methodologies, as well as their physical, chemical, and biological effects. Particular attention is given to how dredging alters sediment dynamics, releases contaminants, increases water turbidity, and compromises biodiversity, especially in fragile ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, and benthic habitats. Furthermore, it examines the risks associated with water acidification and the exposure of contaminated sediments, factors that exacerbate pressures on these environments Through the case study of the Mandinga Lagoon System, the duality of this activity is illustrated. While dredging has provided temporary benefits, such as an increase in oyster fishery production, it has also induced changes in water quality, sediment dynamics, and biodiversity. These adverse effects, compounded by the challenges of climate change, heighten the system’s ecological vulnerability and threaten the environmental services crucial for local communities and wildlife. In conclusion, this work argues that dredging should not be regarded solely as a technical solution, but rather as a practice that requires strict regulation, continuous monitoring, and adaptive management. Only under such conditions can its long-term sustainability be ensured and its negative impacts on valuable lagoon ecosystems mitigated.