Invasive Alien Species
Working Group
Maria Deligianni
European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)
Kick-off Meeting -12 June 2015
Summary
1.
2.
3.
4.
Introduction to ECSA
Shipping-related Pathways
International Regulatory Framework
ECSA’S contribution to IAS WG
1.
INTRODUCTION TO ECSA
 European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)
established in 1965
 Professional association promoting the interests of
European shipping industry. Non-sector specific
association representing all ship’s types & ship’s trades
 European shipping industry controls 40% of the world
merchant fleet
 Based in Brussels - spokesman of the European
Shipowners towards the EU Institutions
 ECSA representatives in IAG group: Benoît Loicq
(permanent), Maria Deligianni (alternate)
2.
SHIPPING-RELATED PATHWAYS
 ECSA monitored closely the adoption procedure of
the IAS regulation
 ECSA recognizes that there are marine invasive alien
species that can be introduced through a shippingrelated pathway:
 Ballast water: essential for safe and efficient shipping
operations, however it may pose serious ecological,
economic and health problems
 Biofouling: Undesirable accumulation of
microorganisms, plants, algae and animals on
submerged structures (especially ships’ hulls)
3. INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
 Global response to address the transfer of IAS through
shipping: UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
requires States to "work together to prevent, reduce &
control human caused pollution of the marine environment
including the intentional or accidental introduction of
harmful or alien species to a particular part of the marine
environment"
 International Regulatory framework already in place
through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO),
providing sufficient voluntary & mandatory measures, ie:
-
the International Convention for the Control & Management of
Ships Ballast Water and Sediments + related guidelines
the IMO Guidelines for the Control & Management of Ships'
Biofouling
4.
ECSA’S CONTRIBUTION TO IAS WG
 Discuss practical issues that may be encountered
during the implementation process of the IAS
Regulation; particular interest in the policy area
 Contribute in the exercise of the development of MS'
Action Plans on pathways for the introduction of key
IAS as stipulated in the IAS Regulation (work area 2)
 Keep the group updated with regards to the IMO
developments, mainly about the ratification of the
Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention
European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)
Rue Ducale, Hertogstraat 67/2 – B-1000 Brussels
+ 32 2 510 39 40 – mail@ecsa.eu – www.ecsa.eu
Follow us on Twitter @_EU_Shipowners
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