10.7 BALLAST WATER RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA

Australia is conducting a significant amount of research into both exotic organism biology and ecology, and potential technologies for ballast water treatment and management.

10.7.1 The Strategic Ballast Water Research Program

A number of research projects are currently being conducted in Australia by various agencies as part of the Strategic Ballast Water Research Program (Table 23). The program is nationally coordinated by AQIS under the direction of a Research Advisory Group (RAG) set up by the Interim Australian Ballast Water Management Advisory Council (IABWMAC). The ultimate goal of the Program is the development of a method of sterilising ballast water, and in the interim, of developing a management system to minimise the risk of introduction of harmful exotic organisms⁵¹³

The CSIRO Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests (CRIMP) contributes significantly to the Strategic Ballast Water Research Program and is involved in several Program projects

Research projects which have recently been completed, or are proposed for, or are continuing in 1997/1998 as part of the Strategic Ballast Water Research Program are described in Table 23.

10.7.2 Research currently conducted by Australian universities

In addition to the projects undertaken by educational institutions under the Strategic Ballast Water Research Program, the following universities are also conducting ballast water research:

· Monash University
Work on the population ecology of Carcinus maenas (European shore crab) and its interactions with native crabs and other local fauna is being carried out by PhD researcher Michael Sinclair⁵¹⁴

· University of Melbourne
Research into the invasive potential of Sabella spallanzanii (Sabella worm) is being undertaken by PhD researcher Michael Holloway.

· Victoria University of Technology

Researchers are looking into the biology and demography of Undaria pinnatifida (Japanese kelp) in Port Phillip Bay, funded by DNRE, Fisheries Branch. VUT are also investigating the use of biocidal agents to control the kelp⁵¹⁵ funded by CSIRO.

· James Cook University, Queensland.
The CRC Reef Research Centre and the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering at the university are monitoring exotic marine species in the ballast of ships visiting Queensland ports, and are investigating methods for the disinfection of ballast water. Treatments tested include ozone, UV light, and filtration⁵¹⁶

· Flinders University, South Australia

Research is being conducted into the use of chlorine to treat ballast water.

10.7.3 Other Victorian research

The Committee notes that the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) through its Fisheries Branch coordinates or provides funding for a significant amount of research conducted in Victoria.

In Victoria, port surveys funded by the Victorian Channels Authority and Victorian ports, DNRE and the EPA have been completed by the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute (MAFRI) for the Port of Hastings and the Port of Portland. MAFRI is currently conducting surveys of Corio Bay, with surveys of the Port of Melbourne and the Port of Geelong due to commence in November 1997⁵¹⁷

Other research conducted at MAFRI includes an investigation into the breeding cycle of the Sabella worm. PhD student, Sonia Talman, is also conducting research on the European clam (Corbula)⁵¹⁸

Table 23
Strategic Ballast Water Research Program projects

Project Name	Research Objectives	Contractor	Status
Decision Support System	The main project currently being undertaken by AQIS is the development of the Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS will be a system designed to undertake assessments of risk of organism transfer for individual ship voyages. Operation of the DSS will depend on access to information on ship's ballast water capacity and capabilities, ship movements and ports of origin, and en route ballast water management. This information will provide the basis for a risk assessment, which will require the development of a risk analysis procedure. The system will also require the establishment of a communications system whereby such information can be accessed at each port, a risk assessment made, and then a decision relayed back to the vessel.	Hyder Consulting	Underway
Port baseline studies	CRIMP has developed protocols for the surveying of Australian ports. Port surveys will provide information on exotic species distribution and abundance for use in the DSS.	CRIMP/Port Authorities	Underway
Port environment comparisons	The physical, chemical and habitat characteristics of Australia's major shipping ports will be reviewed to provide a basis for comparing ports of origin with ballast water discharge sites.	Hyder Consulting	Completion pending
The potential for Vibrio cholerae to translocate and establish in Australian waters	This research will investigate the likelihood of survival of toxic strains of cholera in ballast water, and the public health implications.	CSIRO Food	Complete
Project Name	Research Objectives	Contractor	Status
Heat treatment	This project will assess the practicality of heat treatment of ballast water to control organisms.	BHP Transport	Underway
Ballast water sampling and testing	Development of accurate sampling protocols to determine the identity and abundance of target species in ballast water.	CRIMP	Underway
Ballast water management awareness strategy for the maritime industry	Development of an education package to ensure that ship owners and operators are aware of Australia's voluntary guidelines in relation to the discharge of ballast water.	Thompson Clarke Shipping	Completion pending
Ability of target organisms to survive in ballast water	Determination of the survival ability of Vibrio cholerae, Alexandrium and Gymnodium sp., Undaria pinnatifida, Asterias amurensis, Carcinus maenas, and Sabella spallanzanzii in ballast tanks and during ballasting/deballasting.	Australian Museum Business Services	Underway
Ballast water port contingency plan	Development of a contingency plan for ships to de-ballast, if permission is refused due to the presence of unwanted organisms in ballast water.	Thomson Clarke Shipping	Completion pending
Community Monitoring of Marine Pests	Development of an education program and information network to encourage community monitoring of marine pest incursions.	ABWMAC/ CRIMP/ Environment Australia	Underway

Project Name	Research Objectives	Contractor	Status
Preliminary evaluation of the role of hull fouling and other shipping related vectors in transporting introduced marine species	Assessment of the amount and diversity of hull fouling organisms on domestic and international ships and identification of high risk vessels and routes. Information to be incorporated into risk assessment for the Decision Support System.	To be determined.	Proposed
Research projects at tertiary institutions	· Taxonomic differentiation of potentially introduced decapod crustaceans and development of molecular protocols. · Rates of fertilisation and recruitment in Asterias amurensis. · Ecology and reproductive biology of introduced native algae. · The introduction of exotic marine pests: hull fouling organisms and their survival of oceanic voyages.	Museum of Victoria University of Tasmania Victoria University of Technology Australian Maritime College	Underway
Introduced species impact assessment	General assessment of the biology of introduced marine species.	CRIMP	Completed

Source; Hugh Best, Project Manager, Strategic Ballast Water Research Program, AQIS.
AQIS Submission No. 18

Since 1987, the Fisheries Branch of DNRE has conducted a shellfish biotoxin monitoring program in Victoria⁵¹⁹ In the past, monitoring has been conducted by MAFRI, jointly funded by the Fisheries Branch of DNRE and Human Services (formerly the Department of Health and Community Services). The program's aims are to ensure that commercial shellfish meet public health standards, to maintain the viability of the industry, and to protect recreational harvesters from shellfish poisoning⁵²⁰ The Committee notes that since July 1997 only commercial shellfish growing areas have been monitored⁵²¹ This work is funded to December 1997, when the program will be reviewed⁵²²

Recommendation 14 That due to the potential risks posed by toxic algal blooms to public health, the need for an ongoing algal monitoring program should be determined by the Minister for Conservation and Land Management in consultation with the Minister for Health, as a matter of policy.