This work presents a synthesis about the present stage of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon: causes and consequences of the eutrophic status responsible of its actual ecological degradation, describes the massive death episode of October 2019, along with their direct and indirect causes, identifies a series of false solutions to restore the lagoon and finally proposes an integrated strategy for effectively recover the ecological status of this unique ecosystem. The analysis applies an integrated perspective, linking environmental, socio-economic and governance factors.