UNEP(DEC)/CAR IG.24/INF.7

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UNITED

NATIONS

Eleventh Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and the Eighth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region

Montego Bay, Jamaica, 28 September - 2 October 2004

BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES IN THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION

UNEP(DEC)/CAR IG.24/INF.7

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BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES IN THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION

Submitted by the GEF/UNDP/IMO Global Ballast Water Management Programme (GloBallast)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

Introduction & background

The issue of aquatic invasive species, including the transfer of harmful organisms in ships’ ballast water and sediments, has been identified as one of the greatest threats to global marine bio-diversity and ecosystems, and also a significant threat to coastal economies and even public health. Global economic impacts from invasive aquatic species, including through disruption to fisheries, fouling of coastal industry and infra-structure and interference with human amenity, are estimated to exceed tens of billions of Euros per year. The US General Accounting Office (2003) has identified biological invasions as one of the greatest environmental threats of the 21st Century. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Conservation Union (IUCN), announced at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002, that invasive species are the second greatest threat to global bio-diversity after habitat loss. The impacts are set to increase in coming years with a three-fold increase in shipping activity predicted in the next decade. Developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America, as well as Small island Developing States, are at particular risk, as globalisation of the world economy continues and new markets and therefore ports and shipping routes are opened-up in these areas.

The Global Response

IMO has responded to the ballast water ‘problem’ by:

  • forming a Ballast Water Working Group under its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC),
  • adopting Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ ballast water to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens (Assembly Resolution A.868(20), hereafter referred to as the IMO Guidelines),
  • developing a new international legal instrument (Convention) on ballast water management (the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, hereafter referred to as the Ballast Water Convention), which was adopted by IMO member States in February 2004, and
  • joining forces with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist developing countries to implement the IMO Guidelines and prepare for the Ballast Water Convention, through the Global Ballast Water Management Programme (GloBallast).

The New Convention

The new Ballast Water Convention provides a uniform, standardized, global ballast water management regulatory regime. To a certain extent, it is based on the 1997 IMO Guidelines. It includes requirements for ships to carry a Ballast Water & Sediment Management Plan, Ballast Water Record Book and a requirement to carry out certain ballast water management procedures after a phase in period. Recognition is given that procedures may differ for new ships.

The new Convention provides flexible options and builds on the complimentary roles of coastal, port and flag States in protecting the marine environment. It retains the current management measure of ballast water exchange at sea, for the foresee-able future, while providing for continuous improvement by setting standards to stimulate the development of alternative, more effective ballast water treatment and management measures over time. The Convention will enter into force upon signing by 30 countries representing at least 35% of world shipping tonnage. Adoption of the Convention is considered to perhaps be one of the most significant global environmental achievements in the early part of this Century.

The GloBallast Programme

The objectives of this technical cooperation programme are to assist developing countries to:

  • reduce the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water,
  • implement existing IMO Guidelines, and
  • prepare for the implementation of the new Ballast Water Convention.

The programme is working to achieve these objectives through a three-person Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) based at IMO in London and six initial Demonstration Sites, located in six Pilot Countries. These represent the main developing regions of the world, as follows:

Table 1:GloBallast Pilot Phase Demonstration Sites

Demonstration Site / Pilot Country / Region Represented
Dalian / China / Asia/Pacific
Khark Island / IR Iran / The Gulf (ROPME Sea Area)
Odessa / Ukraine / Eastern Europe
Mumbai / India / South Asia
Saldanha / South Africa / Africa
Sepetiba / Brasil / South America

Technical cooperation activities being carried out at these sites focus on institutional strengthening and capacity building and include:

  • Establishment of National Lead Agencies and Focal Points for ballast water issues.
  • Employment of Country Focal Point Assistants.
  • Formation of cross-sectoral/inter-ministerial Country Task Forces.
  • Communication and awareness activities.
  • Ballast water risk assessments.
  • Port biota baseline surveys.
  • Ballast water sampling.
  • Training in implementation of the IMO Ballast Water Guidelines.
  • Assistance with national ballast water legislation and regulations.
  • Training and technical assistance with compliance monitoring and enforcement.
  • Assistance with developing national ballast water management strategies and action plans.
  • Assistance with developing self-financing and resourcing mechanisms.
  • Initiation of cooperative, inter-governmental regional arrangements for ballast water management.

Phase I has a budget of US$10.2 million, representing US$7.6 million from GEF and US$2.4 million from the pilot countries (approx). GloBallast was commenced in March 2000, and will run until 31 December 2004.

More information about the Programme can be found at including quarterly progress reports, all newsletters and monographs on technical activities published to date, and samples of awareness materials produced.

As the programme draws to an end on 31 December, it is intended that successes at the initial Demonstration Sites can be replicated in additional countries in each region and in new regions, through future programmes, and building on the successes, achievements and frameworks established by the pilot phase. To date, the Wider Carribean region has not benefited directly from the GloBallast programme, and IMO would like to invite the region to be involved in future activities (see below).

The Future & GloBallast Partnerships

In order to progress regional replication of pilot phase successes, IMO is currently developing a funding proposal to GEF and other donors, for a second phase called GloBallast Partnerships.

IMO will commence detailed consultations with potential beneficiary countries, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, regional organizations, ‘sister’ GEF projects (especially the Large Marine Ecosystem projects), and other potential partners to develop the full Project Proposal for GloBallast Partnerships during the 2005 calendar year. This will be submitted to GEF for consideration in June 2006. Subject to donor approval, up to U.S. $2 million may be available to the Wider Carribean Region under GloBallast Partnerships, provided that co-financing and support-in-kind can be secured from the region.

In order to enhance the chances of success of the GEF funding proposal, it is necessary for potential beneficiary countries and regions, including the Wider Caribbean, to identify and secure co-financing and support-in-kind forGloBallast Partnerships from within the region.

The White Water to Blue Water Partnerships Conference – Miami March 2004
During the White Water to Blue Water Partnerships Conference held in Miami in March 2004, important points were raised with regard to the control and management of ships’ ballast water and the unwanted introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens. The unwanted introduction of invasive aquatic species through ships’ ballast water is a threat in the Region now.

The Conference noted the achievements of the GloBallast Pilot Phase and the invitation from IMO for the Region to join in the development of the GloBallast Partnerships proposal.

The conference identified steps that should be considered in developing a partnership among the States in the Region to address this critical problem. First, a representative from each State should take home the excellent materials provided by the GloBallast program and review and discuss it with the relevant government agencies and interested entities. Second, each State should identify one or more people who are assigned to work on this issue and act as a liaison with others in the Region. Third, these liaisons could interact through the WW2BW website or the GloBallast program. Important exchanges of information would thus be facilitated. Finally, it was noted that the Region needs to develop a Strategic Plan to address the unwanted introductions and the GloBallast program can assist in any efforts to do so.

Action Required

In order to progress potential involvement of the Wider Caribbean in GloBallast Partnerships, IMO invites countries of the region to:

  • Identify/nominate a Lead Agency for ballast water management matters in each country, and advise details to IMO.
  • Consider ratifying the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments as soon as possible.
  • Identify and secure co-financing and support-in-kind for GloBallast Partnerships from within the region.
  • Seek agreement from the Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention for UNEP-CAR/RCU to act as the central coordinating body and regional point of contact for IMO in further developing GloBallast Partnerships in the region.

Further Information

Steve Raaymakers

Chief Technical Adviser

Programme Coordination Unit

GEF/UNDP/IMO Global Ballast Water Management Programme

Marine Environment Division

International Maritime Organization

4 Albert Embankment

London SE1 7SR

United Kingdom

Ph +44 (0)20 7587 3251

Fax +44 (0)20 7587 3261

Email

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