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Sustainable use: Shipping
What's the problem?
Shipping is an enormous industry, with over 90% of all trade between countries being traveling by sea. However, sub-standard ships and poor shipping practices are leading to massive marine pollution and damage.
Find out more...
Find out more...
Stopping the invasion
The transfer of ship ballast water around the world and resulting release of invasive alien species into new habitats is a major threat to marine biodiversity.
WWF worked within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for a number of years on the development of an internationally binding Convention on Ballast Water Management, which was finally adopted in February 2004. The convention aims to prevent, minimize, and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of ship ballast water and sediments.
WWF is now working to ensure that the convention is ratified quickly and that it enters into force as soon as possible. We are also working to ensure that the shipping industry:
WWF worked within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for a number of years on the development of an internationally binding Convention on Ballast Water Management, which was finally adopted in February 2004. The convention aims to prevent, minimize, and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of ship ballast water and sediments.
WWF is now working to ensure that the convention is ratified quickly and that it enters into force as soon as possible. We are also working to ensure that the shipping industry:
- Fits ballast water treatment equipment on existing ships as soon as adequate technology exists
- Develops optimal standards for ballast water treatment equipment so that advances in technology are mirrored in increasingly higher levels of 'disinfection' of ballast water
- Protects vulnerable parts of the High Seas, which are currently seen as an open dumping ground for ballast water of coastal origin
- Develops strict rules on special permissions for non-treatment of ballast water that could become loopholes in the convention, making it ineffective
- Takes special measures to protect sensitive areas.