3.9 HULL FOULING OF COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS AND RECREATIONAL CRAFT

The problem of hull fouling and the transfer of exotic marine species is not restricted to large ships. Commercial fishing vessels and recreational craft are also prone to marine fouling, and organisms may be transferred to areas within a port, or to other ports. Of particular concern are commercial fishing vessels which may travel long distances; for example, between Port Phillip Bay, Western Port Bay, Corner Inlet and Portland⁵⁹ The transfer of fouling organisms such as the Sabella worm and Japanese kelp on the hulls of fishing vessels is discussed further in Chapter 4.

Small recreational craft which are not berthed in marinas, but which are transported on trailers and launched from various boat ramps, do not pose such a serious problem. These craft are less prone to fouling as they are in the water for shorter periods of time, and because they generally make only short trips before returning to the same launching site, they are less likely to spread organisms over great distances⁶⁰ The Committee notes, however, that they may still transport spores on their hulls, or adult organisms may become entangled in fishing gear or anchor lines⁶¹

In addition to commercial shipyards, there are a large number of private marinas and boat yards in Victoria which may have slipway facilities for maintenance and hull cleaning of local fishing, charter and recreational boats⁶² The Committee notes that at smaller or older facilities, much of the chemical and biological waste from hull cleaning is returned to the sea⁶³

In 1989, following the ban on the application of TBT paints on vessels less than 25m, the EPA developed guidelines for the disposal of hull cleaning waste from recreational boats. These guidelines were aimed at preventing TBT paint scrapings (from hulls treated prior to 1989) from entering the water, and did not specifically refer to biological waste.

The EPA is currently developing guidelines for marina and boat harbour operations to prevent marine pollution by both biological and chemical waste. Marina operators, with assistance from the EPA, will be responsible for the distribution of educational material to the boating community on the disposal of waste material from boating operations. A monitoring program will then be implemented to determine compliance levels⁶⁴

To date, EPA enforcement activity in relation to hull fouling has concentrated on chemical contamination from anti-foulants⁶⁵ In Victoria only two notices have ever been issued by the EPA in relation to hull cleaning activities. One notice was issued to the Royal Yacht Squadron in St Kilda to stop discharge of contaminated material into Port Phillip Bay; the other notice was issued to the Rippleside ship repair yard to remove chemical contamination, and to prevent further contamination⁶⁶