POTENTIAL GAPS IN MANAGING THE RISK OF TRANSFER OF AQUACULTURE PATHOGENS VIA SHIPPING - THE NEED FOR CROSS SECTORIAL COOPERATION.

In November 2016, soon after Finland and the Republic of Panama ratified the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWMC), Nature published a correspondence in which we raised our concerns that the Convention may not be able to cover the potential risks generated by the transfer of aquaculture pathogens.  

The Ballast Water Convention is a cornerstone of the regulatory regime in place to protect ecosystems from bio-invasions and it will substantially decrease the risk of alien invasions from shipping. The International Maritime Organization has worked since the end of the 1980's until today to develop a global and applicable regulation on Ballast Water. What has been a gargantuan adventure is finally becoming a reality. A presentation of the latest developments in the ballast water management sphere will be made. However, managing pathogens in ballast water might remain a challenge even after ships are fitted with Ballast Water and we are in the opinion that future work should be carried out to evaluate whether there are residual risks which could affect the aquaculture sector.