12^th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species
June 9-12, 2003
By Chris Swanson, CQD Journal, Inc.

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Aquatic Invasive Species - why experts are worried

Shipping as a Vector for New Species Introductions

Summaries of selected presentations:

• Cdr. Patrick Gerrity, - Preventing Aquatic Nonindigenous Species in the U.S.
• Tom Morris – The Development of the International Convention for the control and management of ships' ballast water and sediment
• Anjuna Langevin – Ballast Water Management Practices of Foreign Flag Vessels
• Phil Jenkins – Ballast Management and the Control of Sediment Accumulation in Water Ballast Tanks
• Jack Brabban – The Natural Ballast Water Exchange Method

Windsor, Canada;

Aquatic Invasive Species - why experts are worried...

Why should we care about aquatic invasive species?  In an era focused upon military and defense spending, there is very little political will to look at environmental spending.  Should marine environmental issues be delegated to a future time when we have a more favorable public forum to address them?

International experts meeting in Windsor, Canada last week, felt the world should be very worried about aquatic invasive species.  They expressed deep concerns over the lack of political and public focus on this pressing environmental problem.  Scientists and policy makers said that the time to address the problems over nuisance critters getting into our waterways is "now."

The meetings were part of a conference, the 12^th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species  held through the week of June 9^th to the 12^th , 2003.  Scientists from over a dozen countries representing the Philippines, New Zealand, China, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Ukraine, U.K., U.S. and Canada were in attendance.  The international character of the participants reflected the global nature of the invasive species problem.

Peter Wallace, Asst. Deputy Minister with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, said the severity of the problem was not just the establishment of a single invader.  The heightened fear is that one successful incursion of a non-indigenous species will change the ecosystem and will allow more non-native species to invade.  Each successful establishment of a new species will be a stepping-stone to further harmful invasions to further ecosystems.

Experts speaking in Ontario expressed a list of reasons to be very concerned about the growing problem of invasive species.  Among the top worries were damage to the ecosystem and potential dangers to human health, such as the spread of pathogenic diseases.

Equally vexing are the costs associated from invasive species.  The zebra mussel invasion into Canada and the U.S. has estimated costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars, so far.  Paul Steckle a Canadian Member of Parliament noted that millions spent in prevention will save billions in damages.

Dennis Schornack, Chair of the United States International Joint Commission, USA, asserted that invasive species are the number one threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem.  He equated the problem with the past crisis of chemical contamination to the Great Lakes from phosphate and other pollutants.  He said 25 yrs ago it was reported that Lake Erie was dead.  All groups worked together and a successful clean-up campaign was enacted and accomplished.  Schornack urged groups from industry, government and the public to join in a cooperative effort to address the new crisis of biological pollution in the same way they joined to combat chemical pollution in the 70s.

The biological pollution Schornack talked about was aquatic invasive species or AIS.  He identified the "front door" or primary invasive pathway of AIS is the discharge of ballast water from ships.  He feels the concern is so imminent that the people of the Great Lakes area should forge ahead with legislation to stop the input of nuisance species from ballast water into the watershed.

The ballast water threat was indeed one of the most discussed issues at the conference.  An entire day was devoted to shipping as a vector for invasive species.  Presenters talked about global ballast water management initiatives, legislative efforts for ballast water discharge, ballast water treatment technologies and current ballast water treatment practices.  The many types of AIS believed to be from ballast water were also discussed along with descriptions and pictures of the harm they have inflicted.

All the talk of invasions from shipping did bring out some anti-shipping sentiment.  Jennifer Nalbone of Great Lakes United, an environmental non-governmental organization, asked policy makers whether they would support a critical examination of foreign flag shipping to justify their access to the Great Lakes.  Nalbone suggested that foreign flagged ships should be banned from Great Lakes waters.

Schornack countered, "we should not be banning commerce, we should be banning invasive species."  He said, "we are lucky to have the cooperation of the Lake Carriers Industry in the Great Lakes and we should not be calling for a ban on foreign ships."  Herb Gray, ex-Deputy Prime Minister of Canada said, "we have to live in today's world and everyone should recognize the economic value of ships to the entire region surrounding the Great Lakes."

Other than the public outcry that might result from the stopping of ships and their cargo, delegates spoke about what they would do to advance the concerns of AIS to the public.  Some legislation has been introduced such as the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act in the U.S. and the Biosecurity Act in New Zealand.  Although these authorize financial support towards treatment technologies, many speakers felt the need for more funding far outweighs the amounts authorized.

Schornack said that motivating big money concerns is a key facet in the battle for increased attention to the AIS crisis.  He identified big marine insurers such as Lloyds of London and others as the big money concerns when it comes to the shipping industry.

"It will not be long before we can trace biological pollution back to identify the ship and place of origin from whence it came," he said.  When that happens the potential huge lawsuits and immense civil awards will wake up insurers.  They will in-turn refuse to insure ships unless owners can prove that they are doing something about invasive species and biological pollution from their vessels.

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This page last updated by Miller Associates: Friday, January 16, 2004