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Amendments to an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of potentially invasive species in ships' ballast water entered into force on 13 October 2019. The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the BWM Convention) was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, to address this problem. The BWM Convention entered into force in 2017. The amendments formalise an implementation schedule to ensure ships manage their ballast water to meet a specified standard ("D-2 standard") aimed at ensuring that viable organisms are not released into new sea areas, and make mandatory the Code for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems, which sets out how ballast water management systems used to achieve the D-2 standard have to be assessed and approved. This will help ensure that aquatic organisms and pathogens are removed or rendered harmless before the ballast water is released into a new location – and avoid the spread of invasive species as well as potentially harmful pathogens.

The new (Alien Species) Regulations 2022 recently passed by Cabinet will ensure greater protections for Cayman's most precious native flora and fauna (plants and animals) with the creation of a prohibited species list, and differentiating between domestic & feral species. The legislation also provides ways to control feral and alien species, crucial to reducing threats to both pets as well as our native species.

The Great Lakes remain one of the most heavily invaded freshwater systems in the world. Ballast water from cargo ships crossing the ocean inadvertently brought in many aquatic invasive species (AIS), accounting for the introduction of 40% of all nonindigenous aquatic species in the Great Lakes. However, collaborative efforts have led to pioneering research and policy changes that have reduced this threat.

New Zealand is the first country to implement nationwide regulations to manage risks associated with biofouling on international vessels. The development of this regulation and its implementation can serve as a blue-print for other jurisdictions that are interested in preventing the spread on non-indigenous marine species.

The public consultation period for the proposed legislation to manage invasive alien species will run from August 10th to September 7th 2021. The aim of the Invasive Alien Species Act 2021 is to allow actions to prevent the introduction and establishment of new pest species; and to allow for management of pests already present in Bermuda’s environment. Please review the information at: https://forum.gov.bm/en/projects/managing-problem-alien-invasive-species-1 and leave your comments and questions.