VLIZ contributes to Belgian exemption procedure Ballast Water Management Convention

Photo: www.green4sea.com

The International Convention for the control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments (BWMC) was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2004. The convention aims to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic organisms from one region to another by establishing standards and procedures for the management and control of ships' ballast water and sediments. However, exemptions can be granted to ships under certain conditions. In order to harmonize the process of granting exemptions from ballast water treatment within all member states, a joint OSPAR/HELCOM exemption procedure was developed (a.o. monitoring protocol for ports; target species list; risk assessment procedure). 

In this framework, FPS Mobility & Transport asked VLIZ to make a preliminary database-based analysis of species distributions in the ports of interest, based on the trajectories in which shipping companies expressed their interest to obtain an exemption. The risk (low, medium, high) for further spread of a particular species from one port to another was determined using the harmonized risk assessment protocol taking into account the OSPAR/HELCOM key risk criteria (presence/absence of a species in a port; differences in salinity between ports; salinity tolerance of a species).

All investigated trajectories were classified as ‘high risk’. This implies that it is highly likely that target species are distributed with ballast water and occupy a new habitat. Based on the results of this preliminary study, exemptions cannot be granted for the analyzed trajectories. However, further biogeographic research, as well as taking into account other crucial environmental parameters impacting survival rates of an organism, are strongly encouraged.
 
Publication:
VLIZ (2015). Initial risk assessment under Regulation A-4 of the Ballast Water Management Convention for Belgium using the joint HELCOM/OSPAR Harmonised Procedure. VLIZ Beleidsinformerende Nota's, 2015_002. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. ISBN 978-94-920432-0-7. 88 pp. [download pdf]
 
Contact:
Thomas Verleye
VLIZ - Policy Information division
thomas.verleye@vliz.be