FAQ's

Potential impacts include direct or indirect effects on mangrove ecosystems caused by construction activities, increased marine traffic or other port infrastructure and port operations.

The Lynker report finds that the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) fails to address these fully and is “generally dismissive”, despite “claiming that the environmental viability of the project is ‘highly corroborated’”.

Changes in hydrology, increased sedimentation and pollution have not been fully addressed. There is, without a doubt, a threat of serious irreversible damage to the mangroves.

The developers claim that the project is not located within a protected area. The nearest area, it says, is the Coiba Island National Park, 168 km away. This does not exactly correspond to reality: the shortest straight line distance between the navigation channel to be dredged as part of the project and the Coiba Island National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is approximately 63 km.

The project is also much closer to other sensitive areas. The port facilities are 12 km from Refugio de Vida Silvestre Playa la Barqueta Agrícola, 20 km from Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí and 57 km from Refugio de Vida Silvestre Playa Boca Vieja.

The report states that given the proximity of these sensitive sites and the prevailing ocean currents, a more thorough evaluation of potential impacts on protected areas is required, for example, from sediments resulting from dredging, noise pollution from vessel traffic and possible ship strikes.

Though the port itself will have an impact, the proposed navigational channel, traversing David mangrove forest, is likely to have more widespread and consequential negative effects.

The dredging of a canal to a depth of 12 m is likely to suspend sediments transported by the currents, which could:

• Block sunlight from reaching mangroves, slowing growth and development.
• Block the aerial roots of mangroves from taking oxygen, leading to suffocation and death.
• Bury mangrove seedlings, hindering their ability to germinate and grow.
• Disturb the delicate balance of the mangrove ecosystem, affecting the organisms that live in and around them, such as fish, crabs, and birds.
• Alter water flow patterns, leading to increased salinity in the mangrove environment, affecting their growth.

Fine sediment plumes also could reach coral reefs, particularly during tidal transport, causing significant environmental damage if sediments settle on reefs.

Other potential impacts include the accidental discharge of pollutants and contaminants from shipping traffic and the possibility of subaqueous slope failure following dredging.

No. In terms of minimising the effect of sediment dispersion, the proposed measures are insufficient. The modelling used is inadequate, is not supported by the best scientific studies currently available, and raises doubts about its assertions.

Regarding noise pollution and maritime traffic, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) lacks effective strategies to ensure that speed limits and traffic separation schemes are respected. These are essential to minimise collisions with ships and protect marine life.

The Puerto Barú EIS, supporting documents, and other advertising material, such as the project website, present numerous claims that either lack sufficient evidence or misrepresent the potential impacts and benefits on critical ecosystems.

There are concerns about the methodology adopted for sediment transport modelling, inaccuracies about proximity to key protected areas and potential benefits, inadequate assessment of increased maritime traffic and the generally dismissive tone regarding potential environmental risks in favour of potential socio-economic benefits.

Lastly, the proposed mitigation strategies appear to be inadequate and not grounded in current science.

Mangrove ecosystems: threatened by sediment deposition.

Humpback whales: risk of ship strikes and noise pollution.

Bryde's whales: critically endangered, vulnerable to sediment deposition.

Green sea turtles: endangered, threatened by vessel traffic and sediment dispersion.

Hawksbill sea turtles: critically endangered, vulnerable to sediment deposition.

Pacific sharpnose sharks: critically endangered species at risk.

Bottlenose dolphins: threatened by vessel activity and noise.

Spotted dolphins pntropicales: vulnerable to shipping noise and collisions.

Coral reefs: impacted by sediment dispersion and turbidity.