Aquatic Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water · Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the...
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Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the Scottish Executive FRS Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375 Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB UK tel +44 (0)1224 876544 fax +44 (0)1224 295511 [email protected] http://www.frs-scotland.gov.uk Fisheries Research Services Scientists estimate that more than 3,000 species of flora and fauna are in transit every day in ships’ ballast water. It is not possible to predict accurately the times and locations in which a new species will be introduced. As a result of both the historic and more recent cases, current awareness of the transport of aquatic organisms in ballast water and sediments has greatly increased. Many countries, including Scotland, are now researching these issues and increasing monitoring effort. Impacts of Non-indigenous Species In recent times ballast water discharges are thought to have introduced non-indigenous species leading to serious consequences in their new areas. Examples include the introduction of a fouling organism, the zebra mussel (Dreissina polymorpha) from Europe to the Great Lakes of North America, and the transport of toxic dinoflagellates, associated with shellfish toxicity, from Asia to Australia. Whilst many introduced species may not become established in their new environment, or may be harmless, others can have detrimental effects. For example: • non-indigenous species can compete with native species for food, habitat and other resources; • invasive species may proliferate and have a direct impact on marine resources and amenities; Introduction Scientists know that many different mechanisms for trans- ferring aquatic organisms to new areas exist. These include transfers of fish or shellfish to new areas for aquaculture, accidental escapes of non-indigenous species, and ship- ping operations. Ships can act as vectors for the transfer of aquatic organisms. Organisms may be transported in ships’ ballast, in the ballast water or in the ballast tank sediments, as hull fouling, in the sea chest, on the anchor and in chain lockers. Until around 1850, ships used solid material as ballast, but by the mid-1870s the use of water as ballast had become common practice. Ships use ballast water to adjust their stability and trim when sailing ‘light ship’, i.e. without cargo, or when partially laden. The use of ballast water is important for both maritime safety and the economic operation of vessels, and is therefore essential for the safe and cost-effective operation of the modern shipping industry. Whilst convenient and efficient for shipping, ballast water can present hazards to the aquatic environment. These include the accidental introduction of non-indigenous species to areas where ballast is discharged. One of the earliest reports of an introduction attributed to ballast water discharge was the large tropical planktonic diatom Odontella sinensis which appeared in the North Sea at the beginning of the 20th century. 0.01 mm Dinoflagellate cysts found in ballast tank sediments. Aquatic Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water
Transcript of Aquatic Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water · Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the...
Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the Scottish Executive
FRS Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375 Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB UK
tel +44 (0)1224 876544 fax +44 (0)1224 295511
[email protected] http://www.frs-scotland.gov.uk
Fisheries Research Services
Scientists estimate that more than 3,000 species of floraand fauna are in transit every day in ships’ ballast water.It is not possible to predict accurately the times andlocations in which a new species will be introduced. Asa result of both the historic and more recent cases, currentawareness of the transport of aquatic organisms in ballastwater and sediments has greatly increased. Manycountries, including Scotland, are now researching theseissues and increasing monitoring effort.
Impacts of Non-indigenous SpeciesIn recent times ballast water discharges are thought tohave introduced non-indigenous species leading to seriousconsequences in their new areas. Examples include theintroduction of a fouling organism, the zebra mussel(Dreissina polymorpha) from Europe to the Great Lakesof North America, and the transport of toxic dinoflagellates,associated with shellfish toxicity, from Asia to Australia.Whilst many introduced species may not becomeestablished in their new environment, or may be harmless,others can have detrimental effects. For example:
• non-indigenous species can compete with nativespecies for food, habitat and other resources;
• invasive species may proliferate and have a directimpact on marine resources and amenities;
IntroductionScientists know that many different mechanisms for trans-ferring aquatic organisms to new areas exist. These includetransfers of fish or shellfish to new areas for aquaculture,accidental escapes of non-indigenous species, and ship-ping operations. Ships can act as vectors for the transferof aquatic organisms. Organisms may be transported inships’ ballast, in the ballast water or in the ballast tanksediments, as hull fouling, in the sea chest, on the anchorand in chain lockers.
Until around 1850, ships used solid material as ballast,but by the mid-1870s the use of water as ballast hadbecome common practice. Ships use ballast water toadjust their stability and trim when sailing ‘light ship’, i.e.without cargo, or when partially laden. The use of ballastwater is important for both maritime safety and theeconomic operation of vessels, and is therefore essentialfor the safe and cost-effective operation of the modernshipping industry.
Whilst convenient and efficient for shipping, ballast watercan present hazards to the aquatic environment. Theseinclude the accidental introduction of non-indigenousspecies to areas where ballast is discharged. One of theearliest reports of an introduction attributed to ballastwater discharge was the large tropical planktonic diatomOdontella sinensis which appeared in the North Sea atthe beginning of the 20th century.
0.01 mm
Dinoflagellate cysts found in ballast tank sediments.
Aquatic Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water
Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the Scottish Executive
FRS Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375 Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB UK
tel +44 (0)1224 876544 fax +44 (0)1224 295511
[email protected] http://www.frs-scotland.gov.uk
Fisheries Research Services
• public health may be affected when pathogenic ortoxin producing organisms, for example toxicdinoflagellates, are involved.
Ballast Water ConventionIn response to the problems caused by ballast waterdischarges the International Maritime Organization (IMO)adopted a Ballast Water Convention in 2004. TheConvention contains a ballast water standard that isdivided into two parts:
• A discharge standard will come into force between2009 and 2016 depending on the type, size and ageof the ship. In order to achieve the standard, shipsare likely to have to install equipment to treat theballast water and the challenge is to find a methodthat is universally effective and acceptable to boththe shipping industry and those involved inenvironmental management.
• During the interim period, as the standard comes intoforce, there will be an additional requirement for ships
to exchange ballast water in waters 200 metres indepth and 200 nautical miles away from land. In somecircumstances for example, during bad weather,exchange can be carried out closer to land (50 nauticalmiles).
Although in time all ships will have to achieve the dischargestandard, there will still be a period of time when somevessels will not be required to meet either standard. Thiswill be the case for the UK shipping which is characterisedby short coastal journeys from continental Europe. Theseroutes do not meet the depth and distance criteria outlinedin the Convention for exchange. Other vessels will havea longer period of time to achieve the discharge standardowing to their size and age. There is therefore still a needto manage ballast water in areas such as the North Seain order to reduce the risk of introducing non-native speciesand scientists at Fisheries Research Services (FRS) areinvolved in developing such management plans.
FRS Ballast Water ResearchFRS has carried out ballast water related research for over10 years which has included a number of projects:
• A questionnaire study to assess how much ballastwater was discharged into Scottish waters;
• Sampling the ballast tanks of ships arriving in Scotlandto investigate the planktonic organisms beingdischarged into Scottish waters;
• A large-scale study of ballast water exchange inEuropean regional seas to assess whether this wasan effective method in these waters;
• FRS was also a partner in an EU-funded project knownas MARTOB (On Board Treatment of Ballast Water(Technologies Development and Applications) andApplication of Low-sulphur Marine Fuel). MARTOBcarried out research into different methods of treatingballast water.
The findings from these projects are used to advise theScottish Executive Environmental and Rural AffairsDepartment (SEERAD) and other Government departmentsinvolved in devising UK policy on ballast watermanagement. Future work at FRS will include developinga ballast water strategy for north west Europe andcollaboration on an international sampling programme.
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