Held from 16-18 March 2016, in Montreal, Canada, an international forum organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) shared knowledge and experience on treatment technologies and alternative methods for ballast water management, and discussed policy matters related to the control of invasive alien species.
18 March 2016: Held from 16-18 March 2016, in Montreal, Canada, an international forum organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) shared knowledge and experience on treatment technologies and alternative methods for ballast water management, and discussed policy matters related to the control of invasive alien species.
With the IMO’s International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments nearing entry into force, the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloBallast R&D Forum and Exhibition on Ballast Water Management was held under the theme ‘Ballast Water Management Convention – moving towards implementation.’ Scientific experts, policy-makers and the maritime industry discussed treatment technologies, methods for compliance monitoring and enforcement, and policy perspectives on ballast water management and biological invasions. Opening speeches were delivered by Stefan Micallef, Director of the IMO Marine Environment Division, Ted Thrasher, Chief of Environmental Standards, Air Transport Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Andrew Hudson, Head, UNDP Water and Oceans Governance Programme, and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Executive Secretary Braulio Dias.
It is recalled that the prevention, control or eradication of invasive alien species is addressed under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Aichi Biodiversity Target 9, as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.8 (By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species). As highlighted by CBD Executive Secretary Braulio Dias in his speech, most marine invasive species stow away in ship ballasts and are then released in different biogeographic regions, posing serious ecological, economic and health problems in countries with ports.
The forum heard presentations on, among other topics, priority pathways to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 9, and management of the arrival of unwanted invasive aquatic species via vessel biofouling. [Meeting Website] [Meeting Programme] [IMO News] [CBD Executive Secretary Statement] [IMO Press Release]