Purpose This paper will discuss the Great Lakes regions issue with invasive species introduced via ships ballast water, and the response that has followed since then. The impact of shipping and its economic benefit to the region will also be reviewed.
The Great Lakes
The great lakes system consists of a group of linked freshwater lakes spanning across the traditionally defined “heart land” region of North America. The system consists primarily of 5 distinct bodies of water; Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. The lakes combined is the earths largest group of freshwater lakes, containing approximately 1/5th of the planets surface freshwater. The region contains a tremendously diverse amount of species, and consists of several …show more content…
In 2010, Canada ratified the international standard for ballast water management, the IMO’s Ballast Water Convention (BWM, or Convention). The convention will be coming into legal force in September of 2017. Canadian regulations will be updated to reflect the convention. Along with continuing ballast water exchanges and flushing of tanks prior to entering, ships will be required to install permanent ballast water treatment systems designed for freshwater if loading, or moving ballast amongst the lakes (Transport Canada, …show more content…
The Canadian Shipowners Association(CSA) describes it as an “inappropriate approach” for the domestic fleet (CSA, n.d.), and expressed their concerns to government on technical issues with regard to feasibility and efficacy. A government conducted study concluded that systems were both feasible and effective for application amongst domestic ships (Transport Canada, 2015).
The Great Ships Initiative (GSI), established in 2006, is an independent laboratory with the aim to solve issues related to ship sourced invasive species. It performs research and testing to aid in the development of ballast water treatment systems which can be utilized on the lakes. It has also received USCG certification to test and approve treatment systems. The primary objectives of GSI are as follows (SLSMC,
The Great Lakes
The great lakes system consists of a group of linked freshwater lakes spanning across the traditionally defined “heart land” region of North America. The system consists primarily of 5 distinct bodies of water; Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. The lakes combined is the earths largest group of freshwater lakes, containing approximately 1/5th of the planets surface freshwater. The region contains a tremendously diverse amount of species, and consists of several …show more content…
In 2010, Canada ratified the international standard for ballast water management, the IMO’s Ballast Water Convention (BWM, or Convention). The convention will be coming into legal force in September of 2017. Canadian regulations will be updated to reflect the convention. Along with continuing ballast water exchanges and flushing of tanks prior to entering, ships will be required to install permanent ballast water treatment systems designed for freshwater if loading, or moving ballast amongst the lakes (Transport Canada, …show more content…
The Canadian Shipowners Association(CSA) describes it as an “inappropriate approach” for the domestic fleet (CSA, n.d.), and expressed their concerns to government on technical issues with regard to feasibility and efficacy. A government conducted study concluded that systems were both feasible and effective for application amongst domestic ships (Transport Canada, 2015).
The Great Ships Initiative (GSI), established in 2006, is an independent laboratory with the aim to solve issues related to ship sourced invasive species. It performs research and testing to aid in the development of ballast water treatment systems which can be utilized on the lakes. It has also received USCG certification to test and approve treatment systems. The primary objectives of GSI are as follows (SLSMC,