Sustainability impacts of sediments on the estuary, ports, and fishing communities of Cartagena Bay, Colombian Caribbean

Cartagena Bay, Colombia, faces significant sediment challenges due to freshwater discharges from the Dique Canal, which drains the Magdalena River watershed. These discharges transport 2.3 million tons of sediment annually, leading to deposition rates of 1.8 cm/year and requiring frequent dredging for port sustainability. However, this process poses a health risk as it can resurface mercury dumped by a chemical industry in the 1970s, found in concentrations up to 18.8 μg/g below the bay's bottom. The study highlights the need for effective governance and monitoring tools, such as the Cartagena Bay Observatory, to manage these complex socioenvironmental challenges and protect vulnerable coastal communities.

Tosic, M., & Restrepo Ángel, J. D. (2023). Sustainability impacts of sediments on the estuary, ports, and fishing communities of Cartagena Bay, Colombian Caribbean. WIREs Water, 11(3). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1709