In November 1993, the IMO Assembly adopted resolution A.774(18) based on the 1991 Guidelines, requesting the MEPC and the MSC to keep the Guidelines under review with a view to developing internationally applicable, legally-binding provisions. (resolution MEPC.50(31)) while the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, recognized the issue as a major international concern. In 1991 the MEPC adopted the International Guidelines for preventing the introduction of unwanted aquatic organisms and pathogens from ships' ballast water and sediment discharges IMO has been at the front of the international effort by taking the lead in addressing the transfer of invasive aquatic species (IAS) through shipping. Preventing the transfer of invasive species and coordinating a timely and effective response to invasions requires cooperation and collaboration among governments, economic sectors, non-governmental organizations and international treaty organizations the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Article 196) provides the global framework by requiring States to work together to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment including the intentional or accidental introduction of species, alien or new, to a particular part of the marine environment, which may cause significant and harmful changes thereto. It should be noted, however, that there are hundreds of other serious invasions which have been or are in the process of being recorded around the world. Direct and indirect health effects are becoming increasingly serious and the damage to the environment is often irreversible.įor some examples of aquatic bio-invasions causing major impact please click here. These species are causing enormous damage to biodiversity and the valuable natural riches of the earth upon which we depend. The spread of invasive species is now recognized as one of the greatest threats to the ecological and the economic well being of the planet. Quantitative data show that the rate of bio-invasions is continuing to increase at an alarming rate and new areas are being invaded all the time.
The effects in many areas of the world have been devastating. The problem of invasive species in ships’ ballast water is largely due to the expanded trade and traffic volume over the last few decades and, since the volumes of seaborne trade continue to increase, the problem may not yet have reached its peak yet. In the late 1980s, Canada and Australia were among countries experiencing particular problems with invasive species, and they brought their concerns to the attention of IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). But it was not until the 1970s that the scientific community began reviewing the problem in detail.
Scientists first recognized the signs of an alien species introduction after a mass occurrence of the Asian phytoplankton algae Odontella (Biddulphia sinensis) in the North Sea in 1903. The transferred species may survive to establish a reproductive population in the host environment, becoming invasive, out-competing native species and multiplying into pest proportions. These include bacteria, microbes, small invertebrates, eggs, cysts and larvae of various species. While ballast water is essential for safe and efficient modern shipping operations, it may pose serious ecological, economic and health problems due to the multitude of marine species carried in ships’ ballast water. Ballast water is pumped in to maintain safe operating conditions throughout a voyage. This practice reduces stress on the hull, provides transverse stability, improves propulsion and manoeuvrability, and compensates for weight changes in various cargo load levels and due to fuel and water consumption. Since the introduction of steel-hulled vessels, water has been used as ballast to stabilize vessels at sea.
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