An overview of ballast water transport and treatment of aquatic invasive species
Kessenich BL, Irvine IC, Lipsky CA. 2022. An overview of ballast water transport and treatment of aquatic invasive species. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NRSS/WRD/NRR—2022/2482. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2294665
Modern vessels rely on ballast water for proper buoyancy on voyages and while loading and unloading people or cargo. Because ballast water is usually taken on at one location and discharged at another, it has transported many marine organisms across the globe, some of which have become invasive. For example, ballast water introduced zebra mussels to the Great Lakes, and they have since caused extensive economic and environmental harm within the United States. Growing international concern over ballast water transport of invasive species has led to the introduction of many different policies and regulations since the 1980s. Ballast water exchange - trading port water for open ocean water before docking again - represents the bare minimum standard for reducing invasive species transport. To meet the latest regulatory requirements, many commercial ballast water treatment systems have been developed, ranging from filtration to biocides. The goal of this document is to provide a brief overview of ballast water transport of invasive species, historical and current regulations/policies, management strategies, and outreach suggestions to allow park managers to make informed decisions about ballast water within their parks.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Kessenich, Brennan; Irvine, Irina; Lipsky, Christine
- Date of Issue
- 2022-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2294665
- Units
- NRSS , WRD
- Keywords
- AIS Transport, Aquatic Invasive Species, Ballast Water, Exotic species, Marine Regulations, Non-native species
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Algae , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic animals