Policies and Resources

Ballast water and Ecological Evolution

This report reviews available literature on ecological evolution effects on aquatic invasive species and examines sphere-level AIS management activities. Data on management activities came from publicly available information, was analysed with respect to ecological evolution effects, and was reviewed by managers. This report also analyses sphere and regional AIS management plans to determine their capacity to incorporate information on changing conditions generally, and ecological evolution specifically.

Ballast water is one of the leading causes of worsened ecological condition and ecological evolution has the potential to interact with this stressor through multiple mechanisms. AIS are applied as biological indicators to measure ecosystem condition.

This report assesses the state of the science of ecological evolution effects on AIS and examines sphere level AIS management activities. Part of the assessment focuses on AIS management plans to determine their capacity to incorporate information on changing environmental conditions generally, and ecological evolution specifically. The report concludes that further scientific research data collection are required so as to equip managers with the tools and information necessary to conduct effective AIS management in the context of ecological evolution.

The report is intended for managers and scientists working with AIS to provide them with information on the potential effects of ecological evolution on ballast water, strategies for adapting their management to accommodate these environmental changes, and highlight further research needs and opportunities.

Our Focal Point

We are conducting research related to ballast water management. In doing this, we have discovered what makes ballast water a global pollutant. We looked at topics such as ‘gases in ballast water’, ‘treatment methods applying biocides and chlorine’, ‘recycling of ballast water’ and ‘gathering of ballast water in offshore facilities’.

We are also looking into ‘no ballast ships’, ‘specialised ballast collection vessels’, and ‘environmental impacts of hull fouling’.

We are focused on helping to deliver a solution that will be nearly related or coined from recycling of ballast water and gathering of ballast water in offshore facilities.