With Jamaica's coastal waters prone to invasion of alien species, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), last week held a consultation workshop to discuss the legal implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention, a convention of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The workshop included a group of government attorneys from the ministries of justice, health, foreign affairs and transport, as well the MAJ, the Port Authority and the National Environment and Planning Agency.

Among the matters discussed were legal issues related to public health and other risks posed by invasive species transported in ships' ballast water. Ballast water is sea water used by the operators of ships to control the stability of the vessel. Ballast is pumped out prior to arriving at the port of loading to receive cargo. Marine life forms are taken up during ballasting and introduced in other areas when de-ballasting takes place.

In addressing the participants, Dr Dayne Buddo of the Centre for Marine Sciences, University of the West Indies, said, "Jamaica's coastal waters have been and continue to be vulnerable to marine bio-invasions".

Health risks

"Public health risks posed by ballast water include cholera, heavy metals and toxic marine algae that are a threat to human health. These are transmitted through consumption of seafood," Dr Buddo explained. Research done by Dr Buddo and his team has identified the presence of the Indo-Asian green mussel in the Kingston Harbour. However, the non-native green mussel has not proved to be a danger.

The group also discussed a recent case in the United States involving a shipping company which was fined US$2.7M, and its fleet of 20 vessels banned for three years for one of its vessels failing to comply with the ballast water management regulations, an indication of the magnitude of the problem which has led to the collapse of the fishing industry in Iran and the Great lakes. Shellfish poisoning in other countries have also resulted.

Additional points

Other issues discussed included having ships, bulk cargo vessels in particular, exchanging their ballast water outside Jamaican territorial waters and providing evidence of compliance with this activity.

The Ballast Water Management Convention was adopted in 2004 by member states of the IMO. It will come into force when 30 countries have become party to the convention. Twenty-one countries have ratified the Convention, Korea being the latest. The MAJ, which is the focal point locally for the IMO, is leading Jamaica's multi-agency task force which will guide the process leading to the island's accession to the convention.

The Department of Life Sciences of the University of the West Indies is also taking precautionary measures to prevent the introduction of harmful aquatic species which may be transported through ballast water by the sampling of the ballast water of ships calling at Jamaican ports.