The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) have completed a four year long survey, reviewing 13,000 sources that capture biodiversity of existing knowledge on invasive alien species. It has been prepared by 86 international experts from 49 countries, representing all regions of the world. The report released in September 2023 presents the latest evidence about the status and trends of invasive alien species and outlines options for decision-makers to choose appropriate management and governance responses.

In maritime industry ballast water has been historically recognized as the major pathway for invasive aquatic species introduction. However IPBES report have highlighted that an estimated 70 percent of marine invasive infestations are connected to biofouling via ships’ hull. In New Zealand, authorities estimate that biofouling is responsible for all but three percent of local problems with marine invasive species, and hull fouling is tightly controlled by national laws [1].

It has been highlighted that preventing the introductions of invasive alien species is the most cost-effective management option. The threat of invasive alien species could be reduced with closer collaboration and coordination across sectors and governments to support the management of biological invasions.

GloFouling Partnerships project has developed a series of guides for governments to evaluate the current status of biofouling management to minimize the introduction of invasive aquatic species in the country, to evaluate the economic impacts it may have and also on how to develop national strategies and action plans.

All twelve Lead Partnering Countries of the Project are currently reviewing the economic impacts and are developing national policies on how to manage biofouling in order to prevent the introduction of potentially invasive aquatic species, when the actual status assessments have been completed by all in 2020-2022.

IPBES report is highlighting biofouling as a major pathway for introduction of invasive aquatic species in the marine environment. The Member States of International Maritime Organization understanding the role of biofouling, during the Marine Environment Protection Committee 80th session (MEPC 80) in July 2023 have adopted 2023 Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships' Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species (resolution MEPC.378(80)) – a revision of 2011 Biofouling Guidelines. The revised guidelines are due to be published soon. Read here more about it.

The Project have also developed a training course on “Introduction to biofouling: impacts and management of risks”, which is freely available to all interested on IMO eLearning platform.

To download IPBES report see here.

Video and report photo credit: IPBES

Article cover photo credit: IISD/ENB: Anastasia Rodopoulou

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) in cooperation with GEF and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) co-led a side event to showcase a longstanding, successful collaboration between the three organizations to drive innovation and transformative action in ocean governance, incorporating a broad range of partners at all levels, and with a focus gender mainstreaming and on public-private partnerships to steer the development of solutions and technologies for key marine environment issues.

Through the GloMEEP, GloBallast, GloFouling and GloNoise partnerships projects, the GEF, UNDP and IMO have instituted a model of innovative public-private “Partnerships” style projects, which have addressed the key environmental issues of GHG emissions reduction, invasive aquatic species transferred through ship’s ballast water and biofouling on ships and underwater radiated noise in the marine environment.

Central to the success of this innovative collaboration is the inclusion of Global Industry Alliances (GIAs), uniting private sector players around key global environmental issues, in the project design. The cross-fertilization between public and private stakeholders has catalysed the promotion of R&D efforts, showcased advances in technology development, and initiated global industry dialogue that has supported capacity-building activities in developing countries.

Chaired by Taylor Henshaw, Sr. Environmental Specialist - Program Manager at GEF, the side event offered a brief review of from practitioners and representatives from organizations that have been historically taken part in GEF-UNDP-IMO projects. The panel consisted of: Adnan Awad, Senior Technical Adviser for Oceans, UNDP; Fredrik Haag, Head, Office for London Convention/Protocol and Ocean Affairs, IMO; Karl Lander, member of the Global Industry Alliance for Marine Biosafety; Bev MacKenzie, Head of Intergovernmental Engagement, BIMCO; and Fabiana Martins, Maritime Lawyer and member of WISTA International.

To learn more about the 7th GEF Assembly see here.

The training course main objective is to explain the key elements and considerations when developing a Biofouling Management Plan, the role of the Biofouling Record Book and how to assess the information presented in both documents to assess the level of biosecurity risk of a ship. The training consists of theory lessons supported by practical exercises.

The new training course was first delivered in Tonga (13-14 July 2023) in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure of Tonga, and subsequently the next week in Fiji (19-20 July 2023) in cooperation with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF). Participants in the course were mainly managers and employees of shipping companies, port and drydock operatives, and government officials – particularly from the maritime administration, environmental or biosecurity agencies and port state control.

In Fiji, participants also benefited from a visit to a drydock slipway to illustrate in person some of the key aspects discussed during the course.

GloFouling Partnerships is also developing a publication outlining recommendations for the development and evaluation of Biofouling Management Plans and Biofouling Record Books, which will be published in due course. To see other publications issued by the project see here.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is working together with IMO’s GloFouling Partnerships project to tackle this issue. On 17-18 July 2023 representatives from all Pacific Island countries gathered to define and discuss an action plan that would lead to a harmonized implementation of the IMO Biofouling Guidelines. One of the goals of the meeting was to coordinate the numerous actions in the field of marine biosecurity that are taking place in the region. Thus, participants were informed about initiatives related to the issue of invasive species led by SPREP and the Pacific Community, the outcome of the IOC-UNESCO PacMAN project and some insights into New Zealand’s updated biofouling regulations.

The meeting concurred on the need to ensure harmonization of any measures implemented across the region, increase communication among all countries and to share knowledge and resources that are readily available, particularly for monitoring and sampling aspects. Participants also recognized the importance of including all remaining Pacific Island countries and Territories (PICTs) in future meetings.

The attendance included representatives from Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Also present were representatives from IMO, SPREP, SPC and the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre of the Pacific.

As a result of the meeting a first version of the regional strategy and action plan was drafted. The objective is to finalize the draft before the end of 2023 and secure endorsement by the SPREP Member States before the end of 2024. The task force will meet on an annual basis.

The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, home to some of the world's most uniquely endemic wildlife species, hosted an international workshop, organised by GloFouling Partnerships, on biofouling management to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (,PSSAs). The event was held from 6 to 9 June 2023 and brought together marine biosecurity experts and policy-makers from the GloFouling LPCs and other countries at the ,Charles Darwin Foundation - an international non-profit organization dedicated to the environmental conservation of the Galapagos archipelago, around 1000km off the coast of Ecuador.

MPAs and a range of other area-based conservation measures, such as IMO’s Particularly Sensitive Sea Area concept, are globally important environmental management tools that provide protection from the effects of human exploitation and activities, supporting the conservation of marine biodiversity, ecosystems and the processes they support, as well as resources in a broad sense. MPAs have the potential to address many of the pressures threatening marine biodiversity, in particular over-exploitation of resources, harmful fishing practices, and habitat destruction.

However, MPAs themselves are also at risk of impacts of human activities. The introduction of invasive aquatic species to MPAs, in particular, may have significant impacts on their ecological structure and function, due to changing species composition and the introduction of species that can significantly outcompete and displace native species. Despite this, while the impacts of invasive species are considered a management concern by many MPA experts, the issue is often overlooked in MPA planning and regulation, with only a small proportion of MPA management plans including specific management controls for non-native species.

The workshop provided experts from 20 countries with an opportunity to exchange views, methods and practices for prevention, risk assessment, inspection, monitoring, early detection and rapid response to the introduction of invasive species via ships' biofouling. One key aspect of the event was the opportunity for participants to witness practical demonstrations, such as the use of underwater drones for inspection, standardised methods for monitoring and sampling, the latest advances on anti-fouling solutions and approaches for diver-based inspection of vessels Throughout the week, group discussions enabled experts to debate possible solutions and ways forward to tackle the biofouling issue.

As a result of this workshop, a report will be published later this year bringing together recommendations and a wealth of resources on the specific aspects that MPA administrators need to consider when developing biosecurity measures related to vessel biofouling as a vector for invasive aquatic species.

The workshop would have not been possible without the strong support and the wealth of expertise provided by institutions based in the islands, such as the Galapagos National Park Authority (DPNG), the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency (ABG) and the Charles Darwin Foundation. Additionally, the Ecuadorian Navy (through DIRNEA) facilitated the use of one of its coastguard vessels for practical demonstrations.

Read more ,here about the issue of biofouling and invasive aquatic species.

See available databases of invasive aquatic species ,here. A photo gallery of the MPA biosecurity workshop can be found ,here.

As part of their programme of work for 2023 the group has approved the production of a long-audio-visual feature, which will focus on showcasing the environmental and economic impacts of invasive aquatic species in local communities and countries at large. It will be a half an hour production with aim to help raising awareness on one of the biggest threats for marine biodiversity loss.

The GIA members have also approved to commission a study to understand how biofouling cleaning waste may affect the ambient water. The research will be identifying any changes to water quality as a result of an in-water cleaning event.

The GIA was established to support two key International Maritime Organization (IMO) pressing environmental objectives via improved biofouling management: protect marine biodiversity and decarbonize shipping under the GloFouling Partnerships project. The project is an initiative part of the wider efforts undertaken by IMO, in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme, to protect biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The project fosters an intervention at multiple levels: driving legal, policy and institutional reforms in countries to implement the IMO Biofouling Guidelines; developing capacity to enact a national policy; and bringing in active private sector participation to identify effective solutions and technologies to deal with biofouling.

The GIA has also recently released a short animation showcasing the findings of the study “Analysing the Impact of Marine Biofouling on the Energy Efficiency of Ships and the GHG Abatement Potential of Biofouling Management Measures”. The report has shown that keeping ships’ hulls free from just a thin layer of slime could reduce a ship’s GHG emissions by up to 25 per cent. The animation was also now translated into Chinese, French, Korean and Spanish languages, of which the subtitles were added to reach a wider audience. The translation into Arabic will be coming soon. To access all, see videos via this link: https://www.glofouling.imo.org/awareness-menu

During the 10th GIA meeting the group welcomed Hempel – hull performance solutions provider, whose representative had the opportunity to introduce its work and added value to the team. Alexander Enström, Executive Vice President and Head of Marine at Hempel mentioned how “pleased we are to be joining the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety. We believe that strong collaboration between all stakeholders - governments, NGOs and the maritime industry - is needed to identify challenges and accelerate solutions to decarbonise the maritime industry and protect marine environments. As a provider of hull performance solutions that can help prevent the build-up of invasive species on hulls as well as reduce the fuel usage and carbon emissions of ships, we look forward to taking part in this collaboration.”

The next GIA meeting is due to be held on 27th April 2023 as a full day in-person meeting and workshop, during the 10th session of Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 10) plenary meeting held at IMO.

About Hempel: As coating solutions supplier, Hempel is a global company working with customers in the decorative, marine, infrastructure and energy industries. Hempel factories, R&D centres and stock points are established in every region. It was established in Denmark in 1915 and today employs people across the globe. It’s headquartered in Kongens Lyngby, near Copenhagen, Denmark.

2008. In support of this goal, the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety has commissioned a study to analyse the impact of ships’ biofouling on GHG

Emissions. The study found that under certain conditions, keeping ships’ hulls free from just a thin layer of slime could reduce a ship’s GHG emissions by up to 25 per cent (see full report).

To showcase the findings of this report and share the knowledge, the GIA for Marine Biosafety also commissioned the development of a short animation, which was launched during the MEPC 79 meeting held at IMO headquarters in London. It was presented on 13th December as a side event.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Jose Matheickal, Chief of Department of Partnerships and Projects at IMO, highlighted that it is “less known that ships’ biofouling is also responsible for GHG emissions, as it increases significantly drag and fuel consumption”, which is presented in the animation together with the available solutions to overcome it. He encouraged the maritime industry to consider biofouling management as one of the easy ways to save GHG emissions.

Watch full animation:

The GIA for Marine Biosafety is an initiative of IMO’s GloFouling Partnerships project, that brings together private sector companies from a wide range of ocean-based industries such as shipping, offshore oil and gas, cleaning technology and fouling prevention and control systems manufacturers, including anti-fouling coatings, in-water cleaning systems, and ultrasonic systems, that are willing to lead their respective sectors towards sustainable and practical solutions for biofouling management.

The GIA for Marine Biosafety also ceased the opportunity to hold its 9th meeting, on the same day, in hybrid format with some members joining remotely. This meeting has marked the end of Mr. Yusik Kim (Chief Executive Officer, Tas Global) one year mandate as a Chair of the GIA and the beginning of a newly elected Chair, Mr. Simon Doran (Managing Director, HullWiper).

Upon receiving his congratulations Mr. Doran expressed his gratitude to the work done by his predecessors and his intention to “be a coherent voice for the GIA for Marine Biosafety with its mission to support two key IMO pressing environmental objectives via improved biofouling management”, namely to protect marine biodiversity and decarbonize shipping.

The GIA also welcomed its two newest members Armach Robotics and Jotun (read more), and agreed on new activities for 2023, including the translation of the launched animation into several languages for higher outreach and impact, and to commission the production of a long-feature audio-visual – a continuation of the animation – to also reflect the impacts of invasive species introduced via biofouling, with particular emphasis on the human and environmental elements and showing examples such as: the impact of invasive coral on local species; impact of invasive bivalve on women shellfish collectors; biosecurity measures in Marine Protected Areas; and management of biofouling and impact of invasive species in port areas.

Biofouling is the accumulation of microorganisms, slime, plants, algae, or small animals on ships’ hull and other wetted surfaces. In addition to the irreversible affects it can have for marine biodiversity by introducing potentially Invasive Aquatic Species into new environments, biofouling also increases the drag of ships, forcing to burn more fuel to maintain speed and contribute to the higher GHG emission.

Biofouling is the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on ships’ hull and other wetted surfaces. In addition to the irreversible affects it can have for marine biodiversity by introducing potentially Invasive Aquatic Species into new environments, biofouling also increases the drag of ships, forcing them to burn more fuel to maintain speed and contribute to the higher GHG emission.

The GIA was launched in June 2020 with four founding members and now it has tripled with the joining of the two new companies in December 2022. Armach Robotics - in-water cleaning service provider, and Jotun - coatings manufacturer. The two new members join at the end of a very busy year for the GIA: just as the two commissioned studies were finalized and the findings of which were published in report format. The first one being on the impact of ships’ biofouling on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which found that keeping ships’ hulls free from just a thin layer of slime could reduce a ship’s GHG emissions by 25 per cent. When the second study is analysing the current and emerging regulatory environment for biofouling management.

The GIA have also commissioned a short animation video to increase awareness of GHG and good biofouling management, which will be launched on 13th December during the 79th meeting of Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 79) at IMO Headquarters.

Armach Robotics will add to the alliance discussions and work, their perspective of in-water cleaning services. Karl Lander, Director - Regulatory Compliance and Outreach, mentioned that “Armach is excited to work with GIA and its partners on addressing the negative impact biofouling has on the global shipping industry.”

Jotun will bring experience in antifouling coating technology, proactive in-water cleaning services and innovations in biofouling management. Petter Korslund, Regulatory Affairs Manager in Jotun, mentioned that “GIA is an important industry initiative to work together and cooperate towards a more sustainable shipping. As a global leader in maritime coatings and clean hull solutions, it is our mission to contribute to cleaner hull on vessels, enabling the shipping industry's ambition for decarbonization and biodiversity.”

The next GIA meeting is due to be held also on 13th December, where the new members will get the opportunity to introduce themselves and start contributing to the work of the alliance in the joint goal to improve biofouling management and share awareness of the effects of biofouling worldwide.

About Armach Robotics:

Armach Robotics (Armach) offers shipowners autonomous in-water robotic cleaning solution. Armach harnesses purpose-built robotics with proprietary navigation and operational software to clean ship hulls. The resulting clean hull optimizes ship efficiency, lowers fuel cost/consumption, and provides a complete hull condition report giving shipowners new insight into the condition of their ships' hulls.

About Jotun:

Jotun is a manufacturer of decorative paints, marine, protective and powder coatings, with more than 10 200 employees worldwide. Jotun products are available in more than 100 countries through own subsidiaries, joint ventures, branch offices, dealers and distributors. Jotun is based out of Sandefjord, Norway

The strategy is one of PEMSEA’s commitments to GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships project as a Regional Organization. The GloFouling Partnerships project is a collaboration between IMO, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to protect marine ecosystems from the negative effects of IAS introduced via biofouling.

Biofouling is the accumulation of aquatic organisms on wetted or immersed surfaces such as ships and other offshore structures. The spread of IAS due to biofouling is agreed to be a serious threat to marine biodiversity. The increase in the roughness of a ship’s hull due to biofouling also leads to increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Task Force meeting is a forum for member states to provide National Level updates on their

progress in this area. It is also a chance to consider any global updates from the shipping industry as well as to hear about the latest developments in the biofouling research sector. Yusik Kim Chief Executive Officer of TAS GLOBAL, who is also the chair of Global Industry Alliance for Marine Biosafety, presented recent developments in biofouling removal technology. Guillaume Drillet, Chair of Global TestNet (a strategic partner of GloFouling Partnerships) spoke about standardization and testing of Biofouling.

The event in Manila is the third PEMSEA Regional meeting but the first to be held in-person as

well as remotely. Prior to this event, two meetings were held virtually: a regional awareness seminar in June 2021 and the Regional Task Force’s first meeting in April 2022, at which the Task Force was formerly established , and first discussions were held on the regional biofouling management strategy and action plan.

The PEMSEA scheme is part of the GloFouling Partnerships project’s drive to work with as many countries as possible in the region via partner regional organisations. It also encourages a coordinated approach across the region in the management of biofouling.

To enrich the knowledge a side event - visit to Josefa Slipways port facilities, was organized. During which the participants had the opportunity to witness ship's hull cleaning first hand together with a more detailed presentation of the work at the facilities.

Southeast Asia is the fourth region to see the establishment of a regional task force and the development of a regional strategy. The next area to benefit from such a program is due to be the Pacific region (in collaboration with SPREP) in 2023.

The project also collaborates with UNEP/IMO REMPEC to facilitate the replication in the Mediterranean region of national activities conducted by Lead Partnering Countries under the project . And it has plans to engage with UNEP’s Regional seas programme to reach out to western and central African countries.

In addition to PEMSEA country partners, those attending include the Philippines and Indonesia (both GloFouling Partnerships Lead Partnering Countries) plus, representing IMO, Lilia Khodjet El Khil and Ernesta Swanepoel, a consultant on international environmental law.

PEMSEA member states that have attended the Regional Task Force meeting are Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. When Thailand and Malaysia attended as observers.

PEMSEA plans to present its regional biofouling strategy at the 15th EAS Partnership Council in July 2023, and to incorporate anti-biofouling activities into the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS SEA) Implementation Plan 2023-2027.

IMO is expected to present the biofouling strategy at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Maritime Transport Working Group meeting in March 2024 (date to be confirmed). ASEAN members include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Project brings together countries and key partners to respond to a global environmental problem, namely the introduction of Invasive Aquatic Species via ships’ biofouling. Invasive species have a range of impacts on marine ecosystems and eradication is often impossible or prohibitively expensive. GloFouling Partnerships fosters an intervention at multiple levels: driving legal, policy and institutional reforms in countries to implement the IMO Biofouling Guidelines (resolution MEPC.207(62)); developing capacity through training and knowledge sharing; and bringing in active private sector participation to identify effective solutions and technologies to deal with biofouling.

The Project works already with 12 ‘Lead Partnering Countries’, namely Brazil, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tonga; and 13 ‘Partnering Countries’: Argentina, Chile, China, Comoros, Djibouti, Islamic Republic of Islam, Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname and Tuvalu.

While Lead Partnering Countries have committed to developing national biofouling management assessments and strategies, increase their expertise and lead the way in their respective regions with the support of the Project, Partnering Countries build their capacities by participating, with the support of the Project, in regional activities to keep abreast of latest developments, learn from experiences gained from the Lead Partnering Countries, and contribute to regional policy discussions led by the Project’s Regional Coordinating Organizations.

By joining the project as a Partnering Country, Panama will benefit from the Project’s efforts to build capacity in the Central and South America region and will be expected to use the tools and guidance developed by the Project to spur initiatives at the national level.

GloFouling Partnerships has developed the General Training Course on Biofouling Management which Lead Partnering Countries are currently delivering to their stakeholders (soon to be made available via IMO’s eLearning platform).

The Project published: Guides on how to draft National Status Assessment, Rapid Economic Assessment and National Strategies & Action Plan on Biofouling Management; and reports on GHG emissions analysing biofouling management measures, Compilation of biofouling regulations, Biofouling management for recreational boating and Marine aquaculture industry.

Watch this short project introductory animation (English, French and Spanish) for more information.

Participants discussed greener technologies for the management of biofouling and ways of tackling transportation of invasive aquatic species to protect marine biodiversity. Biofouling is the accumulation of aquatic organisms on wetted or immersed surfaces such as ships and other offshore structures.

Twelve sessions were held over four days to debate and share knowledge about the most pressing areas facing the maritime biofouling sector, including preventing and reactive technologies for managing biofouling; testing of technologies and innovative technology for monitoring biofouling; environmental and economic impacts as well as best management practices in shipping and other sectors, such as renewable energy, aquaculture and recreational boating. Port perspectives and initiatives undertaken by ports was another subject of interest. The last day of the event focused on industry-led contributions to the global environment agenda, where the work conducted by the project's Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety on biofouling management was highlighted, notably two studies commissioned by the GIA, the first one on fuel efficiency resulting from good biofouling management, and the second one analysing the current and emerging regulatory environment for biofouling management. The day ended with a panel that discussed policy aspects and how policy can timely and adequately respond to current biofouling management issues.

As part of the event, a special industry panel led by the World Ocean Council (WOC) held discussions on green investment to support innovation and technology development for biofouling management, which highlighted the need to increase awareness of investors on the role of shipping as trade enabler and the opportunities for green financing shipping carries. In a side event, a special presentation was delivered by Mark Patterson and Gary Rosewell from Proteus Ocean Group on their plans to build an advanced underwater research station, namely PROTEUS™. The ocean space station will serve as an ocean observatory and research platform aimed at scientists, innovators, and global customers with an interest in enhancing their of marine life and address some of its most critical threats.

The Forum also provided an opportunity for beneficiary countries of the GloFouling Partnerships project to showcase some of their key progress and exchange experiences, and to meet with Maritime Technologies Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) to discuss a sister project, TEST Biofouling focusing on demonstration pilot initiatives.

Representation of women in the maritime biofouling field

One salient session at the GloFouling R&D Forum considered the representation of women in the maritime biofouling field. With an all-women panel, the session opened with a presentation by Sanjam Gupta of Sitara Shipping looking at the route towards inclusive biofouling management.

She highlighted the importance of increased awareness of the issue and the need for a commitment to gender equity and inclusion in the biofouling sector but acknowledged that change wouldn't happen overnight. Arguing that those who didn't recognise the business case for gender diversity were missing out on ideas, creativity and, probably, profit, she called for male leaders to take the initiative, and urged everyone in the industry to "walk the talk" by committing to a target that, she said, "has to be closer to 50/50 than 90/10".

The GloFouling Partnerships project includes targeted initiatives focusing specifically on women, aimed at creating an empowering space for reducing existing disparities in maritime administrations, the scientific community and the private sector to support implementation of the sustainable development goal 5 on gender equality (SDG 5).

Recreational craft and invasive species report

The spread of invasive aquatic species by recreational boats due to biofouling was described by Dr Agnese Marchini from the University of Pavia as posing a "real threat" to marine biodiversity. Chairing a session on how to manage the introduction of alien species to new areas, she highlighted a lack of knowledge about the issue within the global recreational boat community.

A report aimed at helping to tackle the problem was launched during the R&D Forum. The Recommendations for biofouling management in the recreational boating sector has been compiled by the GloFouling Partnership project, led by IMO and in collaboration with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), World Sailing and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (read more here).

The report describes the role of recreational boating in creating a pathway for invasive species to travel across the world's oceans and inland waterways. It also outlines best practice to minimise the threat and offers guidance on the use of anti-fouling paints to prevent the spread of invasive species and ensure biosecurity.

Biofouling management, fuel efficiency and GHG emissions

The importance of maintaining a smooth and clean hull free from biofouling was examined during a session on the final day of the Forum aimed at demonstrating the potential for GHG emissions savings. During the session, John Alonso of the GloFouling Partnerships project spoke about the conclusions of a study on the Impact of Ships' Biofouling on Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The study's preliminary findings, launched at last November's COP 26, found that keeping ships' hulls free from just a thin layer of slime could reduce a ship's GHG emissions by 25 per cent. These percentages can be much higher for more severe biofouling conditions, depending on the type of ships and other parameters.

The final report - Analysing the Impact of Marine Biofouling on the Energy Efficiency of Ships and the GHG Abatement Potential of Biofouling Management Measures also presents an analysis of how some biofouling management solutions may impact ship efficiency. The study presents results from seven scenarios (or anti-fouling strategies) in relation to a reference ("always clean") of a target vessel (bulk carrier), between dry-docking periods. These results demonstrate the magnitude of fuel, CO2 and cost savings that can be achieved by keeping this ship as clean as possible from biofouling. Biofouling management is one important contributor to the overall operational efficiency of ships and should be considered by shipowners to achieve IMO's Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating indicator that measures vessel carbon intensity over time.

Download the full report here: https://www.glofouling.imo.org/publications-menu

Contributing to global efforts for biodiversity protection

Established under the GloFouling project, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environment Protection (GESAMP) working group 44 on biofouling management is currently looking at the scientific aspects of biofouling role as a vector of the transfer of invasive species. The status of this work was presented during the Forum and a report is expected to be released by the end of 2023. Participants at the Forum highlighted the relevance of the GloFouling Partnerships project's work to the United Nations broader work on biodiversity, ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference (Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)), which meets for its second part from 7-19 December 2022, in Montreal, Canada.

GloFouling Exhibition

Alongside the opportunity for discussion, Forum delegates were treated to an exhibition of the winning entries of a photography competition with pictures illustrating the problem of maritime biofouling. Several informative posters were also displayed, and through the wonders of virtual reality, there was also the chance to experience being up close to a submerged surface where the result of biofouling was all too obvious.

3rd GloFouling Partnerships Forum and Exhibition – Republic of Korea 2024

The 3rd GloFouling Partnerships Forum and Exhibition will be hosted by the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea, in late 2024.

For more photos of the event, visit the Flickr gallery here

Later in the week, and already in support of the newly developed action plan, a cross collaboration between CPPS, the Smithsonian Institution and IMO, brought together marine biologists from the five coastal countries in the Southeast Pacific for a practical training on an harmonised methodology for sampling fouling species in ports. All participants were able to pull out settlement plates planted earlier at two different ports located south of Guayaquil, and then perform two types of analysis.

Dr Gail Ashton, from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre, and Dr. Inti Keith, from the Charles Darwin Foundation, guided participants through a morphological review of the samples to identify and classify species based on their taxonomy, and then explained two different methods to prepare samples for an eDNA analysis. Each country will now replicate the same survey in their national ports, applying the standardised sampling methodology that will help to establish a baseline of existing species and to monitor future effectiveness of biofouling management policies.

Finally, in another meeting held during the same week, IMO met representatives from the National Park of the Galapagos Islands, the Charles Darwin Foundation, the Galapagos Biosecurity and Quarantine Control Agency (ABG), the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment Water and Ecological Transition, the Coast Guard and Marine Environment Agency (DIRNEA) and CPPS to plan an international workshop on prevention, early detection and rapid response to invasive aquatic species transferred through biofouling on ships in marine protected areas (MPAs). A key contribution from the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships, the global event is scheduled for next year and will focus on practical demonstrations of methods and technologies applied to marine biosecurity in MPAs.

The Japan Ship Technology Research Association (JSTRA) is the latest member to join the GIA just in time before it’s 8th meeting due to take place on Monday 10th October 2022, where the members will reconvene to discuss the progress of ongoing (production of an animation and development of a report exploring port perspectives, all related to biofouling management) and any potential upcoming activities.

Biofouling is the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on ships’ hull and other wetted surfaces. In addition to the irreversible affects it can have for marine biodiversity by introducing potentially Invasive Aquatic Species into new environments, biofouling also increases the drag of ships, forcing them to burn more fuel to maintain speed and contribute to the higher GHG emission.

The new member JSTRA is engaged in strategic R&D (Research and Development) activities to enhance the international competitiveness and technology base of the Japanese shipbuilding and shipping industries, and to respond to technical issues being faced by these industries, including logistical efficiency, safety assurance and environmental conservation issues.

“We regard regulations, standards and R&D activities as our trinity, whereby we provide an integrated maritime cluster (platform) where members from shipping industry, government (inspection organizations and other government agencies) and academia come together as one; and drive initiatives regarding new regulations and standards, and R&D activities to enhance international competitiveness.” Seiichi Tanaka, Chairman of JSTRA.

GloFouling Partnerships will be holding its 2nd R&D Forum and Exhibition on Biofouling Prevention and Management for Maritime Industries at IMO (International Maritime Organization) Headquarters in London, United Kingdom, 11-14 October 2022. It will bring together regulatory bodies, academia, leading scientific experts, technology developers, and representatives from maritime industries such as shipping, ports and harbours, aquaculture & fishing, offshore oil & gas, deep sea mining and ocean renewable energy, for a comprehensive overview of this rapidly expanding area of research and development of technologies. For more information see: 2nd R&D Forum and Exhibition

For more information on how to join the GIA: https://www.glofouling.imo.org/gia

About JSTRA: Since its foundation in 2005, JSTRA has functioned as a platform for close cooperation between industry, government and academia, as well as among consignors, shippers, and shipbuilders and ship machinery manufactures.

JSTRA’s major roles include deepening the level of shared awareness with regard to problematic issues concerning ship technologies and carrying out projects relating to regulations, standards and R&D, with the participation of various concerned parties; including shipbuilders and ship machinery manufactures, the shipping industry, universities, research institutions, academic societies, ship inspection organizations and various government agencies.

Raising awareness of and combatting ocean pollution caused by micro-plastics, bio-fouling, chemicals and macro-organisms were the focus of the most recent meeting of the IMO's GloFouling Partnership Project's Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety.

During the 7th GIA meeting, members have noted increasing evidence of biological material, microplastics and chemicals found in wastes generated by in-water cleaning of vessel anti-fouling paints and coatings. This trend in pollution could negatively impact the marine environment if it continues to grow, prompting the GIA to make this an area of future work.

Furthermore, participants at the hybrid meeting also discussed the ongoing impact of ships' biofouling on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG), and the status of implementation of a short animation video to increase awareness of GHG and good biofouling management.

GIA members agreed on the need for greater participation by the ports sector in discussions about biofouling. As ports control in-water cleaning of ships on their premises, they play an important role in biofouling management and would bring greater expertise and resources to the work of the GIA for Marine Biosafety. The GIA is actively seeking to recruit new members* from the ports sector.

Many of the topics discussed at the meeting will be in the spotlight at the second GloFouling R&D Forum and Exhibition on Biofouling Prevention and Management for Maritime Industries, which will be held in London from 11-14 October 2022.

*The GIA currently consists of nine members (AkzoNobel, Cleansubsea, Ecosubsea, Hapag-Lloyd, HullWiper, KCC, SoniHull, SLM global and Tas Global) and one association with observer status: the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP).

The Global Project Task Force of the IMO-executed GloFouling Partnerships project, a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and IMO, met for its second meeting (11 to 13 April) at IMO Headquarters in London, United Kingdom.

The project addresses biofouling - the accumulation of algae, animals and microorganisms on the surface of ships. Biofouling plays an important role in the transfer of invasive aquatic species (IAS) from one region to another. Reducing biofouling contributes to the reduction of GHG emissions from ships.

Despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the project moved many activities online and completed a number of reports since the first task force meeting in 2019. Looking ahead, the Project has been extended to 2025. A revised work plan and budget for 2022-2025 was agreed, with the inclusion of a key demonstration event on biofouling management in marine protected areas. This is likely to be conducted in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador).

An R&D Forum and Exhibition on Biofouling Management, organized by IMO's GloFouling Partnerships, will be held from 11 to 14 October 2022, at IMO headquarters in London, United Kingdom (further details on how to participate will be available soon.)

During 2020-2021, three lead partnering countries in the project (Indonesia, Jordan, Philippines) delivered training through national institutions and nine others plan to do so during 2022.

All countries have completed national status assessment reports on biofouling management and established a national task force to lead action on biofouling. A number of regional awareness seminars took place online. In 2022, regional task force meetings are planned in four regions, with a view to developing the first draft of regional strategies and action plans.

The project's Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety was established and commissioned and completed a number of reports and studies during 2020-2021.

Despite the pandemic, awareness raising and training continued. During 2020-2021, some 7,000 people registered for 23 online webinars and more than 630 participants engaged in online training opportunities (workshops, seminars) conducted in lead partnering countries. In addition, more than 500 people participated in national and regional policy development events.

Reports, studies and best practice issued during 2020-2021 included: Guide on the development of National Status Assessments on Biofouling Management; Guide to developing a National Biofouling Strategy; and Guide for the development of Rapid Economic Assessments for Biofouling Management and Invasive Aquatic Species. All three guides will be published in 2022.

Reports commissioned by the GIA included: Report - Analysis of existing and emerging regulations, standards and practices related to ships' biofouling management; Report - Impact of biofouling on fuel consumption and GHG emissions (to be issued in 2022).

A Report on Biofouling Management for Recreational Boating has been developed which includes the result of an online survey on current practices implemented by boaters and marinas (to be published in 2022).

Future reports and guidance in progress include: GESAMP report on the scientific aspects of biofouling and aquatic invasive species introduced via biofouling; report on best practices to manage biofouling in the aquaculture sector; and report on best practices on biofouling management in the offshore oil and gas industry. Representatives from 11 lead partnering countries, four regional organizations, IOC-UNESCO and numerous strategic partners including from the private sector attended the 2nd Global Project Task Force meeting for the GloFouling Partnerships project.

The 12 Lead Partnering Countries in the GloFouling Partnerships Project are: Brazil, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tonga.

Coordinating efforts to prevent the transfer of invasive aquatic species in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden was at the core of a meeting held in Hurghada, Egypt, from 22 to 23 March, organised by the Secretariat of the Regional organization for the conservation of the environment in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) under the umbrella of the GloFouling Partnerships project.

The meeting brought together government representatives from PERSGA member States, namely Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, and follows earlier efforts in the region such as the regional seminar conducted in 2021 to raise awareness on the issue of ship’s biofouling as one of the main vectors for the transfer of invasive aquatic species.

PERSGA member States established a Regional Task Force and elected its Chair (Jordan) for a 2-year term. Jordan is a Lead Partnering Country of GloFouling Partnerships and has already made considerable progress at the national level, with the development of a national status assessment report and a draft national strategy.

Participants also discussed and agreed on the contents of a draft regional strategy and an action plan on biofouling management that will help harmonize efforts, identify priority activities and set a communication channel for knowledge sharing.

Regional efforts such as this one are a key to pool resources, share experience and increase the number of countries that develop national assessments and a national policy on biofouling management, in line with the IMO Biofouling Guidelines to prevent invasive aquatic species and protect their negative impacts on marine biodiversity.

The next steps in the region will be the endorsement of the draft strategy and its action plan, and the implementation of the first activities identified, followed by another meeting of the regional task force in 2023.

Biofouling is the accumulation of aquatic organisms such as micro-organisms, plants and animals on surfaces and structures immersed in or exposed to the aquatic environment.

GloFouling Partnerships is a collaboration between IMO with UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to help developing countries and Small Island Developing States to prevent the transfer of invasive species via ship biofouling. The project gives support for the implementation of the IMO Biofouling Guidelines through the use of best management practices, sharing of expertise, tools and technologies and the delivery of training courses on all aspects of biofouling on ships.

IMO was represented at the meeting by Lilia Khodjet El Khil and by Theofanis Karayannis. Ernesta Swanepoel, IMO’s consultant, facilitated the discussion.

The meeting discussed the realization of two new activities for the upcoming period: the development of an animation to explain the link between biofouling and GHG emissions and a report that will explore port perspectives in relation to biofouling management.

The GIA celebrated the completion of its report “Compilation and comparative analysis of existing and emerging regulations, standards and practices related to ships’ biofouling”. This GIA-led report was commissioned to provide higher clarity to the industry and facilitate compliance. The report has been recently submitted to the 9th session of IMO’s Sub Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR), where discussions are taking place for the development of the revised IMO Biofouling Guidelines.

Representing the KCC Corporation during the GIA meeting, Mr. K.J. Kang, Senior Manager at the Coating System Design Department, highlighted that "through daring and innovative research and development, KCC has focused its efforts on pursuing environmentally friendly biofouling management for the global society, in particular, providing marine coating systems to protect vessels, offshore structures and docks, terminals, and storage facilities. We will support improved biofouling management and marine biosafety initiatives via our developing Anti-fouling Coatings and FMS (Fouling Management System). FMS consists of hull performance analysis, fouling risk assessment and proactive/reactive hull cleaning. This integrated package helps shipping fleets to control biofouling management”.

For more information on how to join the GIA: ,https://www.glofouling.imo.org/gia

About KCC Corporation

Since its foundation in 1958, KCC has become a leading comprehensive fine chemical company that produces construction and industrial materials, paint, silicone and cutting-edge materials. KCC Corporation focuses the capabilities on developing innovative, eco-friendly and high value-added, “ONE AND ONLY” products. KCC Corporation strengthens the leadership position to become a “Strong, Trusted, and Global KCC” by building trust with customers and gaining a competitive advantage.

The training package was developed by GloFouling Partnerships and provides a detailed introduction to the multiple aspects related to marine biofouling, its role as a vector for the introduction of invasive aquatic species and the management solutions and technologies that are available.

Due to the COVID travel and meeting restrictions, the methodology for delivering this training course was through national experts designated by each country and provided with guidance by the GloFouling team in London.

In the Philippines, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) held the training course from 25 to 28 October 2021 via video conference. The course served as a vehicle to capacitate maritime trainers from MARTI for future deliveries of the training and was also attended by representatives from the maritime training institutions (MTIs), maritime higher education institutions (MHEIs), academic institutions, government agencies, and private stakeholders.

During her opening remarks, the MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations, Engr. Nannette Z. Villamor–Dinopol highlighted the commitment of the Philippines to minimize the harmful impacts of aquatic biofouling to the marine environment as one of the Lead Partnering Countries of the GloFouling Project. MARINA – Overseas Shipping Service Officer-In-Charge, Ms. Precilla C. Jara, delivered the closing remarks reiterated the country’s manifestation to continually protect the marine environment despite the unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am encouraging everyone to be more determined, resilient, and never get tired of steering our ships towards a globally competitive, greener, healthier, and environmentally sound maritime industry,” Ms. Jara emphasized.

In Jordan, the training course was held in a hybrid format from 26 to 27 September 2021 at the premises of the Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies (JAMS), in collaboration with the Aqaba of Special Economic Zone authority (ASEZA), the Regional organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (PERSGA).

Representing PERSGA, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed provided opening remarks on behalf of PERSGA´s Secretary General, H.E. Prof. Dr Ziad Abu Ghararah and highlighted the importance of preventing the impact that IAS could have on the PERSGA region, which is extremely rich in biodiversity, rendering it a global conservation value and the dependence of the countries of the region on the coastal and marine environments as a key element in economic development, including coastal fisheries, tourism, maritime industry and other activities. Among the participants were representatives of various maritime sectors, including Aqaba ports and Maritime affairs Authorities.

The training course in Indonesia was held from 1 to 2 November in a hybrid format with attendance of over 100 participants that included government officials, harbour masters and port state control officers with a need to understand better the problem presented by biofouling so they can create and implement regulations and ensure that biofouling is managed without damaging the environment.

As in other countries, the course was delivered by a mix of national experts and some professors from the BP3IP Maritime Education Centre, and was inaugurated by Mr Ahmad Wahid, Director of Marine Safety and Seafarers, and strong support from the officers and personnel of from DGST that have been providing continuous support to the work of IMO and GloFouling Partnerships to demonstrate how Indonesia leads the way in Asia to find solutions for biofouling.

Lilia Khodjet El Khil, IMO Project Technical Manager for GloFouling Partnerships declared, "Stakeholders can take a number of complementary actions to reduce GHG emissions from shipping. Using alternative fuels or technology to curb emissions can help meet the 2050 targets for the industry, but reducing fuel consumption is a vital part of the equation. Biofouling management creates a smooth ship's hull, and this will reduce friction and thereby reduce fuel consumption and associated GHG emissions. Biofouling management is an important part of the roadmap to a decarbonized future."

There are multiple studies demonstrating the impact of biofouling on ship performance, but preliminary results demonstrate how the perceived impact of biofouling is likely to have been historically underestimated by industry leaders and policy makers. The GIA Report on Biofouling compiles the results of published literature and presents them in a consolidated manner - highlighting some truly revealing numbers. The Report also features newly developed research focused on analyzing the effect of currently available industry practices for biofouling management, such as the importance of selecting the most appropriate fouling control coating, hull cleaning, propeller polishing and the use of ultrasonic antifouling systems.

The report aims to highlight the importance of biofouling mitigation measures in the short to medium term: biofouling management may be used as a means of compliance with IMO carbon intensity requirements, while the development and deployment of other GHG reduction strategies based on new low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels or technologies come to fruition.

In addition to getting a preview of the report, attendees also heard about the perspectives from key stakeholders who may benefit from a push to facilitate the deployment of innovative technological solutions to tackle biofouling, including representatives from the Small Island Developing State of Tonga, BIMCO, ICS and UNDP.

The Preliminary results of the report can be accessed here.

You may view the video of the side event here.

Aquaculture producers around the world are well versed in managing biofouling growth, be it on submerged equipment or on stock organisms themselves (e.g. oysters, mussels, etc.). Biofouling of cages and nets in finfish aquaculture is a significant operational problem to the sector, resulting in the restriction of water exchange that may adversely affect fish health by the reduction in dissolved oxygen and the accumulation of metabolic ammonia. Biofouling is of further concern because it significantly decreases cage flotation, increases structural fatigue and cage deformation, and may act as a reservoir for pathogens.

In aquaculture, biofouling can also be used as a process in farms as it is the case with biofouling (biofilm/slime) on moving bed bioreactors in Recirculated Aquaculture Systems (RAS). Yet, with human-made structures moving from one ecosystem to another in different parts of the world, biofouling has also become one of the main sources for anthropogenic introductions of non-indigenous species, potentially including pathogens such as Bonamia or IHN virus that may impact stock species health.

Additionally, invasive species that are aggressive biofoulers are also an issue, particularly in shellfish aquaculture biofouling, where they affect stock growth or reduce its quality classification. Notable examples are the tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus, the tunicate Didemnum vexillum or the ascidian Styela clava.

Despite this knowledge, there are few comprehensive studies that quantify the impact of biofouling on aquaculture. Some conservative estimates of the costs related to biofouling management in the aquaculture industry are consistently between 5–10% of the production costs - equivalent to US$ 1.5 to 3 billion per year, illustrating the need for effective mitigation methods and technologies. But more studies and accurate estimates are required to help industry operators to allocate cost-effective resources to prevent and manage biofouling.

All in all, the aquaculture sector stands to benefit considerably from improved biofouling management practices, particularly with the promising route for future expansion of offshore aquaculture. This growth should go hand in hand with improved strategies to prevent the introduction of invasive species and pathogens into new environments either directly or as stepping-stones for wider expansion.