Better ballast biosecurity will help protect Great Barrier Reef

June 7, 2017

THE protection of Australia’s marine environment, Great Barrier Reef and $2.8 billion fisheries and aquaculture industries from foreign pests will be enhanced with the Government’s ratification of the ‘International Convention for the Control of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediment’ tonight in London. protect Great Barrier Reef

Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce said the International Convention phases out risky ballast water exchange, fosters new and more effective ballast water treatment technologies and will help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

“The ratification of the International Convention means that, for most ships, ballast water cannot be exchanged within 200 nautical miles (about 370km) of the Great Barrier Reef, as opposed to 12 nautical miles (22km) at the moment, which will continue to protect this unique ecosystem from the potential biosecurity threats,” Minister Joyce said. “The shipping industry will also be required to adopt new, more effective discharge standards in the form of ballast water treatment systems on their vessels within the first few years of the Convention being in force. The Government has worked with the states and territories and the shipping and maritime industry on this important initiative, including Shipping Australia Limited and Maritime Industries Australia Limited, which were integral players in the development of the Convention.”

There are severe penalties for those who fail to comply. A ship operator may be fined up to $360,000 for failing to comply with the ballast water requirements.

“Although Australia has regulated the use of ballast water on international vessels arriving in our waters since 2001, there is no nationally consistent system for domestic voyages,” Minister Joyce said. “Implementation of the Convention in Australia will put these requirements in place to ensure marine pests already established in some parts of Australia are not able to spread to other Australian ports. Ballast water is water taken on by ships before departure to maintain stability and is generally discharged at the next port of call.”

“Each year, about 200 million tonnes of ships’ ballast water is discharged into Australian ports. Ballast water is a serious threat to Australia’s biosecurity because plants and animals that live in the ocean are also picked up from the point of departure, and could devastate our marine environments, fisheries and aquaculture industries when they are released into Australian waters.”

Australia played a lead role in the drafting of the Convention, which involves over 50 countries and was signed by former Prime Minister John Howard on May 27, 2005. The Convention will come into force for Australia on September 8, 2017, the same day that the Convention comes into force internationally.

Fast facts

The value of Australian fisheries and aquaculture production was $2.8 billion in 2014-15.
Each year, around 200 million tonnes of ships’ ballast water is discharged into Australian ports by 16,000 ship visits from some 600 overseas ports.
The risks associated with ballast water were first raised by Canada and Australia and embraced by the International Maritime Organisation back in 1991.
Ratification by June 8, 2017 will mean that the Convention will come into force for Australia on September 8, 2017, the same day that the Convention comes into force internationally.
New domestic ballast water arrangements will come into effect from the same day.

protect Great Barrier Reef protect Great Barrier Reef protect Great Barrier Reef protect Great Barrier Reef protect Great Barrier Reef protect Great Barrier Reef