Impact of dredging projects on marine mammals
GAO Minhao
LIN Zhilan
ZHEN Yu
YONG Liming
ZHANG Yuke
WANG Xianyan
Abstract：Dredging is a common marine engineering operation,which has negative impacts on the ma-rine ecosystems,especially on marine mammals.In present paper,we reviewed the direct and indirect impacts of dredging activities on marine mammals.The direct impacts include temporary and perma-nent damages to the auditory system and hearing masking of marine mammals;the potential threat of dredging vessels to marine mammals,and the change of seabed topography which influences the habitat use of marine mammals.Indirect impacts include changes in water quality,pollutants and food re-sources,and further one on marine mammals.Dredging may also play positive roles in local ecological restoration,improving the habitat quality of marine mammals.According to the negative impacts,we proposed corresponding mitigation measures to protect marine mammals,which may significantly aid to environmental impact assessment of dredging and conservation and management of marine mammals.
Keywords：dredging projectinshore marine mammaldirect impactindirect impactpositive impact
Publication Date：2025-12-30
Online Publishing Date：2026-05-22(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 196-203 )