Proposal for a regional biofouling management strategy: ROADMAP

COMPLETE activities for filling knowledge gaps constitute the basis for the development of a regional harmonized Baltic Sea management strategy on biofouling to minimize species introduction and spread and provide the knowledge basis for a Baltic Sea wide harmonization of processes. Information of national regulations, cleaning procedures, biofouling management options, antifouling systems and methods, antifouling efficiency, benefits of hull cleaning on ships fuel consumption and emissions, ways of optimization of hull cleaning needs are the basis for this work.

Project results will provide comprehensive knowledge for policy makers to understand the different antifouling practices in merchant shipping and leisure traffic. Based on this knowledge, recommendations will be developed which enable policy makers to implement harmonized biofouling management strategies for the entire Baltic Sea region. From the environment point of view, there is an imbalance between the strictly controlled ballast water management and the varying interpretation of the regulatory framework for the biofouling management: the NIS introductions are equally harmful, irrespective of the transport mode.

The main objective of the roadmap development is to find best innovative solutions for making shipping environmentally friendly without placing an unnecessary financial burden on the shipping industry, and to ensure that the review process is an integral part of the proposed management system.