Dragages et environnement marin Etat des connaissances

Port activities require continuous or occasional dredging of considerable quantities of sediments : approximately 50 million m3 along the French coastline. A large proportion of the dredgings is authorized for dumping at sea in geographically delimited areas and following an impact evaluation of their potential harmfulness to the marine environment. The environmental risks assessment linked to dredging operations relies on knowledge related to several scientific disciplines contributing to changes in the regulations. This work, intended both for managers and for environmental scientists and engineers, is designed to take stock of the current state-of-the-art in the field of sediment contamination and related ecotoxicological hazards, along with a review of the tools and methods available to decision-makers: risks analysis, bioassays, modeling, land-based treatment, etc.