Aquatic Invasive Species Aquatic Invasive Species and Ballast Water and Ballast Water

ManagementManagement

Nicole A. DobroskiNicole A. Dobroski

Marine Invasive Species ProgramMarine Invasive Species Program

California State Lands CommissionCalifornia State Lands Commission

What are AIS?What are AIS?

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are organisms Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are organisms transported by human activities to a region transported by human activities to a region where they did not occur historically and have where they did not occur historically and have established reproducing populations in the wild.established reproducing populations in the wild.

Also known as invasive, Also known as invasive, exotic, alien, introduced, exotic, alien, introduced, aquatic nuisance species (ANS),aquatic nuisance species (ANS),nonindigenous species (NIS), nonindigenous species (NIS), non-nativenon-native

Additional FactsAdditional Facts

Non-native species are considered the second greatest Non-native species are considered the second greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat destructionthreat to biodiversity after habitat destruction

Many non-native species are capable of causing Many non-native species are capable of causing significant ecological, economic or human health impactssignificant ecological, economic or human health impacts

In the marine environment, the rate of new introductions In the marine environment, the rate of new introductions has increased exponentially during the last 200 yearshas increased exponentially during the last 200 years

Example: Chinese Mitten CrabExample: Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensisEriocheir sinensis Native to China and Native to China and

Korea, introduced Korea, introduced populations in SF Baypopulations in SF Bay

Burrows into earthen Burrows into earthen levees and undermines levees and undermines levee integritylevee integrity

Clogs water pumping Clogs water pumping facilities, $1 million spent facilities, $1 million spent in 2000-2001 to remove in 2000-2001 to remove crabscrabs

Carrier of parasitic lung Carrier of parasitic lung flukefluke

Example: Overbite ClamExample: Overbite Clam

Corbula amurensisCorbula amurensis Detected in SF Bay in Detected in SF Bay in

19861986 Native to AsiaNative to Asia Very high Very high

feeding/filtration ratefeeding/filtration rate Decline in copepod Decline in copepod

species associated with species associated with spread of clam, may be spread of clam, may be associated with decline of associated with decline of Delta smeltDelta smelt

How do they get here?How do they get here?

Many mechanisms (vectors) capable of Many mechanisms (vectors) capable of transporting AIS around the worldtransporting AIS around the world

Aquaculture, live seafood shipments, bait, Aquaculture, live seafood shipments, bait, pet store trade, intentional releasepet store trade, intentional release

Commercial ships responsible for up to Commercial ships responsible for up to 80% of introductions in coastal habitats80% of introductions in coastal habitats Includes Includes ballast waterballast water and and vessel foulingvessel fouling

Ballast WaterBallast Water

Necessary to maintain Necessary to maintain the trim and stability of the trim and stability of oceangoing vesselsoceangoing vessels

Ballast Water and AISBallast Water and AIS

Species are introduced with ballast water Species are introduced with ballast water discharge in recipient regionsdischarge in recipient regions

Ballast Water and AISBallast Water and AIS Approximately 7000 species transported around the Approximately 7000 species transported around the

world each day in ballast water of shipsworld each day in ballast water of ships Volume of global trade is increasing = more ballast water Volume of global trade is increasing = more ballast water

(and species) in movement(and species) in movement Speed of global trade is increasing = more species Speed of global trade is increasing = more species

survive transitsurvive transit Examples of species introduced to SF Bay as a result of Examples of species introduced to SF Bay as a result of

ballast water discharge:ballast water discharge:

Palaemon macrodactylus Philine auriformis

Tridentiger barbatus

Vessel FoulingVessel Fouling

Community of Community of organisms that attach organisms that attach or associate with or associate with submerged portions submerged portions of structuresof structures

On vessels, highest On vessels, highest density in “niche” density in “niche” areas: sea chests, areas: sea chests, around rudder, dry around rudder, dry dock stripsdock strips

Fouling and AISFouling and AIS

Species introduced when organisms Species introduced when organisms fall/drop off structures or spawn fall/drop off structures or spawn (reproduce)(reproduce)

How do we manage AIS?How do we manage AIS?

Prevention – Best line of defense, vector Prevention – Best line of defense, vector regulation/managementregulation/management

Eradication – Costly and oftenEradication – Costly and oftenimpossible, over $6 million to impossible, over $6 million to eradicate eradicate CaulerpaCaulerpa (algae) from (algae) fromtwo small southern CA two small southern CA embaymentsembayments

Species management once established – restrict Species management once established – restrict local movement, control populations in sensitive local movement, control populations in sensitive habitats if possiblehabitats if possible

International RegulationsInternational Regulations

International Convention for the Control and International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments. Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.

Adopted by IMO in February 2004Adopted by IMO in February 2004 Becomes effective one year after ratification by 30 Becomes effective one year after ratification by 30

countries representing 35% of world shipping countries representing 35% of world shipping tonnage.tonnage.

Establishes performance standards for ballast water Establishes performance standards for ballast water discharge.discharge.

As of September 2007, 10 countries representing As of September 2007, 10 countries representing 3.42% of world shipping tonnage have signed 3.42% of world shipping tonnage have signed convention.convention.

Federal LegislationFederal Legislation

Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990and Control Act of 1990

National Invasive Species Act of 1996 – National Invasive Species Act of 1996 – required USCG to develop voluntary (and in required USCG to develop voluntary (and in 2004 mandatory) ballast management 2004 mandatory) ballast management guidelines for vessels entering US watersguidelines for vessels entering US waters Also – vessel BW management plan, reporting & Also – vessel BW management plan, reporting &

recordkeeping, safety exemptionrecordkeeping, safety exemption New legislation proposed, nothing has New legislation proposed, nothing has

passed to date.passed to date.

California Laws & RegulationsCalifornia Laws & Regulations

1999 - Ballast Water Management for Control of 1999 - Ballast Water Management for Control of Nonindigenous Species ActNonindigenous Species Act

2003 - Marine Invasive Species Act established 2003 - Marine Invasive Species Act established the Marine Invasive Species Programthe Marine Invasive Species Program

2006 – Coastal Regulations, Coastal 2006 – Coastal Regulations, Coastal Ecosystems Protection Act (required Ecosystems Protection Act (required establishment of performance standards)establishment of performance standards)

2007 – Performance Standards Regulations, AB 2007 – Performance Standards Regulations, AB 740 (addressing vessel fouling) recently signed 740 (addressing vessel fouling) recently signed by Governorby Governor

Ballast Water Management Ballast Water Management Options in CaliforniaOptions in California

Retain all ballast on board Retain all ballast on board Ballast water exchangeBallast water exchange Discharge to an approved Discharge to an approved

shoreside treatment facility shoreside treatment facility (currently no such facilities (currently no such facilities in CA)in CA)

Use of alternative, Use of alternative, environmentally sound environmentally sound CSLC or USCG approved CSLC or USCG approved method of treatmentmethod of treatment

RetentionRetention Most frequently used management option. Most frequently used management option.

In the first half of 2006 almost In the first half of 2006 almost 85%85% of of vessel arrivals reported retaining all ballast vessel arrivals reported retaining all ballast water on board.water on board.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006a

Year

Pe

rce

nt

Ves

sels

Retain

Discharge

Theory Behind BW ExchangeTheory Behind BW Exchange

Coastal organisms won’t survive in nutrient poor Coastal organisms won’t survive in nutrient poor mid-ocean conditions mid-ocean conditions

Mid-ocean water – density of organisms (# Mid-ocean water – density of organisms (# organisms/volume water) is less, mid-ocean organisms/volume water) is less, mid-ocean species not likely to survive in brackish and/or species not likely to survive in brackish and/or polluted conditions found in most estuaries and polluted conditions found in most estuaries and port regionsport regions

Reduced number organisms +Reduced number organisms +reduced likelihood of survivalreduced likelihood of survival = reduced chance of invasion = reduced chance of invasion

PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton

Ballast Water ExchangeBallast Water Exchange

Flow through – pump Flow through – pump three full volumes of three full volumes of water through ballast water through ballast tanktank

Empty-Refill (aka Empty-Refill (aka Sequential) – tank Sequential) – tank emptied once and emptied once and subsequently refilled subsequently refilled with waterwith water

Exchange RequirementsExchange Requirements

Vessels entering CA Vessels entering CA from outside of US EEZ from outside of US EEZ - must exchange at least - must exchange at least 200 nm from any shore 200 nm from any shore and in waters at least and in waters at least 2000 meters deep2000 meters deep

Exchange ballast water Exchange ballast water in near coastal waters in near coastal waters (outside of 50 nm) if that (outside of 50 nm) if that water was taken on in a water was taken on in a port or place within the port or place within the Pacific Coast RegionPacific Coast Region

AK

British Columbia (Canada)

WA

OR

CA

Mexico

Southern Limit of thePacific Coast Region

Northwestern Limit of thePacific Coast Region

Exchange EfficiencyExchange Efficiency

Efficiency of exchange Efficiency of exchange varies by vessel type and varies by vessel type and exchange methodexchange method

Ranges from 50 – 99%Ranges from 50 – 99% Sediments often remain Sediments often remain

regardless of exchange regardless of exchange method – important method – important because sediments because sediments contain eggs/resting contain eggs/resting stages for many types of stages for many types of speciesspecies

Inside Inside Golden BearGolden Bear Ballast Tank Ballast Tank

Need for TreatmentNeed for Treatment

Exchange is not sufficient to ensure that no Exchange is not sufficient to ensure that no species will be released into coastal watersspecies will be released into coastal waters

We don’t know dose-response curve (how many We don’t know dose-response curve (how many organisms must be released to result in a organisms must be released to result in a species introduction)species introduction)

Only truly protective discharge Only truly protective discharge standard is no species present – standard is no species present – cannot reach this standard with cannot reach this standard with any management practice otherany management practice otherthan ballast water treatmentthan ballast water treatment

Hyde BW Treatment SystemHyde BW Treatment System

Ballast Water Treatment Performance StandardsBallast Water Treatment Performance Standards

Organism Size Class Organism Size Class CaliforniaCalifornia1,21,2 IMO Regulation D-2IMO Regulation D-211 WashingtonWashington

Organisms greater than 50 µm Organisms greater than 50 µm in minimum dimensionin minimum dimension

No detectable living No detectable living organismsorganisms

< 10 viable organisms < 10 viable organisms per cubic meterper cubic meter

Technology to Technology to inactivate or inactivate or remove:remove:

95% zooplankton95% zooplankton99% bacteria and 99% bacteria and

phytoplanktonphytoplanktonOrganisms 10 – 50 µm in Organisms 10 – 50 µm in

minimum dimensionminimum dimension< 0.01 living organisms < 0.01 living organisms

per mlper ml< 10 viable organisms < 10 viable organisms

per mlper ml

Organisms less than 10 µm in Organisms less than 10 µm in minimum dimensionminimum dimension

Escherichia coliEscherichia coliIntestinal enterococciIntestinal enterococciToxicogenic Toxicogenic Vibrio choleraeVibrio cholerae

(01 & 0139)(01 & 0139)

< 10< 1033 bacteria/100 ml bacteria/100 ml< 10< 104 4 viruses/100 ml viruses/100 ml

< 126 cfu< 126 cfu33/100 ml/100 ml< 33 cfu/100 ml< 33 cfu/100 ml< 1cfu/100 ml or < 1cfu/100 ml or < 1cfu/gram wet weight < 1cfu/gram wet weight

zoological zoological samples samples

< 250 cfu/100 ml< 250 cfu/100 ml< 100 cfu/100 ml< 100 cfu/100 ml< 1 cfu/100 ml or < 1 cfu/100 ml or < 1 cfu/gram wet weight < 1 cfu/gram wet weight

zooplankton zooplankton samplessamples

Ballast Water Capacity of VesselBallast Water Capacity of Vessel Standards apply to new vessels in this Standards apply to new vessels in this size class constructed on or aftersize class constructed on or after

Standards apply to all other vessels Standards apply to all other vessels in this size class beginning inin this size class beginning in

< 1500 metric tons< 1500 metric tons 20092009 20162016

< 1500 – 5000 metric tons< 1500 – 5000 metric tons 20092009 20142014

> 5000 metric tons> 5000 metric tons 20122012 20162016

How does this apply to you? How does this apply to you? What can you do?What can you do?

Educate yourself – seminars, journal articles, Educate yourself – seminars, journal articles, news, talk with expertsnews, talk with experts

Be familiar with the law – international, Be familiar with the law – international, federal, statesfederal, states

Follow Best Management Practices (BMPs)Follow Best Management Practices (BMPs) Get involved – testing programs, Get involved – testing programs,

demonstration projectsdemonstration projects Environmental Stewardship - responsibility Environmental Stewardship - responsibility

for environmental quality shared by all those for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions affect the environment whose actions affect the environment

Questions ?

Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center