Pacific countries to harmonize ballast water management procedures

Countries across the Pacific are joining forces to protect marine ecosystems from invasive aquatic species through more effective management of ships' ballast water.

A regional workshop and expert meeting, held in Nadi, Fiji (28-31 October) brought together over 30 representatives from maritime authorities*, biosecurity experts, and regional partners to align implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.

The BWM Convention helps ensure ships manage their ballast water to a certain standard to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens, a key step in safeguarding Pacific biodiversity and livelihoods.

With the support of in-kind expertise provided by the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), under a Memorandum of Understanding between IMO and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the meeting advanced the work towards a harmonized regional framework consistent with the BWM Convention's provisions. The initiative aligns with DAFF's Pacific Biosecurity Strategy 2022-2027.

Over the four-day event, participants refreshed their knowledge of the Convention, shared national experiences and circumstances, and reviewed draft regional harmonized procedures developed by IMO and DAFF. Once finalized, these harmonized procedures will help countries across the Pacific apply consistent practices and strengthen compliance monitoring and enforcement.

The support to the region was particularly timely, as Vanuatu recently ratified the Convention and the Solomon Islands announced their intention to deposit its instrument of accession during the upcoming 34th session of the IMO Assembly (24 November - 3 December). This further increases the already high proportion of Parties in the region.

In line with IMO's commitment to gender equality, representatives from the Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA) and its national chapter Women in Maritime Association Fiji (Fiji WIMA) shared insights on empowering women and promoting gender perspectives in the Pacific region in connection with BWM. Opportunities for future collaboration were identified.

The workshop and meeting were hosted by the Government of Fiji, through its Maritime Safety Authority, and delivered with support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). The IMO Regional Presence Office (RPO) for the Pacific, recently established in Fiji, was also represented. The potential role of both SPREP and the RPO in supporting further work and cooperation at the regional level was also discussed.

* Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu