- Conference resolution 1: Future work by the Organization pertaining to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments
- Conference resolution 2: The use of decision-making tools when reviewing the standards pursuant to Regulation D-5
- Conference resolution 3: Promotion of technical co-operation and assistance
- Conference resolution 4: Review of the Annex to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments
Background
The problem of invasive species is largely due to the expanded trade and traffic volume over the last few decades. The effects in many areas of the world have been devastating. Quantitative data show the rate of bio-invasions is continuing to increase at an alarming rate, in many cases exponentially, and new areas are being invaded all the time. Volumes of seaborne trade continue overall to increase and the problem may not yet have reached its peak.
Specific examples include the introduction of the European zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Great Lakes between Canada and the United States, resulting in expenses of billions of dollars for pollution control and cleaning of fouled underwater structures and waterpipes; and the introduction of the American comb jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi) to the Black and Azov Seas, causing the near extinction of anchovy and sprat fisheries.
The problem of harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water was first raised at IMO in 1988 and since then IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), together with the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and technical sub-committees, have been dealing with the issue, focusing in the past decade first on guidelines and then on developing the new convention.
Going further into history, scientists first recognized the signs of an alien species introduction after a mass occurrence of the Asian phytoplankton algae Odontella (Biddulphia sinensis) in the North Sea in 1903. But it was not until the 1970s that the scientific community began reviewing the problem in detail. In the late 1980s, Canada and Australia were among countries experiencing particular problems with unwanted species, and they brought their concerns to the attention of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
In 1991 the MEPC adopted MEPC resolution 50(31) – Guidelines for Preventing the Introduction of Unwanted Organisms and Pathogens from Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediment Discharges; while the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, recognized the issue as a major international concern.In November 1993, the IMO Assembly adopted resolution A.774(18) – Guidelines for Preventing the Introduction of Unwanted Organisms and Pathogens from Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediment Discharges, based on the Guidelines adopted in 1991. The resolution requested the MEPC and the MSC to keep the Guidelines under review with a view to developing internationally applicable, legally-binding provisions.
The 20th Assembly of IMO in November 1997 adopted resolution A.868(20) – Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ ballast water to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens.The development of the draft mandatory instrument has been continuing since then until this week’s adoption of the new instrument.Some examples of aquatic bio-invasions causing major impact are listed in the table, but there are hundreds of other serious invasions which have been recorded around the world:
