Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
LinkedInView All Links
International Agencies and Programs
Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the lead Canadian government department responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters.
Transport Canada
Transport
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
AQIS is the lead agency for the management of ballast water taken up overseas with the intention of discharge within an Australian port.
Australian Invasive Species Council
Lobbies against invasive species in
National Introduced Marine Pest Information System (NIMPIS)
This website links to a database on over 80 of the known introduced species in Australian waters, and some information on species yet to be found here. NIMPIS also provides an online, convenient mechanism for members of the public or marine stakeholders to report unusual occurrences.
Biosecurity New Zealand
Biosecurity New
National Centre for Aquatic Biodiversity & Biosecurity (New Zealand)
The New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research established the NCABB to facilitate access to information on freshwater and marine biodiversity and biosecurity.
International
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
U.N. agency responsible for improving maritime safety, preventing marine pollution, and working for technical cooperation.
Global Ballast Water Management Programme (GloBallast)
International Maritime Organization (IMO) program to help developing countries reduce transfer of species and pathogens in ships' ballast water.
International Association of Independent Tanker Owners.
INTERTANKO represents independent oil and chemical tanker owners.
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea - Working Group on Ballast and Other Ship Vectors
ICES is the organization that coordinates and promotes marine research in the
Ret
Federal Agencies and Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
On September 18, 2006, a United States district court ordered the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop new regulations in two years to address ballast water discharges from vessels into United States waters. The order follows the court's holding from March 2005 that EPA had illegally exempted ships' ballast water discharges from Clean Water Act permit requirements. This most recent ruling directs EPA to take specific action by September 30, 2008 to ensure that shipping companies comply with the Clean Water Act and restrict the discharge of invasive species in ballast water.
Maritime Administration (MARAD) Ballast Water Initiative
NOAA/FWS/MARAD have teamed up by way of a federal funding opportunity that allows researchers to apply for use of a ship from the MARAD Ready Reserve Force to serve as an experimental test platform for ballast water demonstration projects.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.
NOAA Fisheries - National Marine Fisheries Service
Government agency dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management.
National Sea Grant College Program
Nationwide network of 30 university-based programs that work with coastal communities to foster science-based decisions about our aquatic resources. Also, see Sea Grant program on AIS here.
U.S. Coast Guard Ballast Water Management Program
USCG program, in response to NISA 96, that establishes regulations and guidelines to prevent the introduction of AIS. See bottom of their page for more ballast info.
U.S. Geological Survey - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Site
Central repository for accurate and spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of nonindigenous aquatic species.
100th Meridian Initiative
Cooperative effort between state, provincial, and federal agencies to prevent the westward spread of zebra mussels and other AIS in
American Association of Port Authorities
The American Association of Port Authorities is a trade association which represents more than 150 public port authorities in the
ANS Task Force
Intergovernmental organization dedicated to preventing and controlling aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and implementing ANS legislation.
Habitattitude
Program that works with the pet and aquarium trade and the nursery and landscape industry to prevent release and spread of AIS.
Protect Your Waters
Site for recreational users who want to help stop the introduction and spread of AIS.
West Coast Regional Programs
Pacific Ballast Water Group
Regional group of regulators, shipping industry, environmental groups and others who recognize the need for a coordinated approach to ballast issues.
Pacific Coast Marine Habitat Program
This site provides access to information and geospatial data related to marine habitat off the West Coast.
Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
Non-profit association representing owners and operators of marine terminals and US and foreign vessels operating in the
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
PSMFC's primary goal is to promote and support policies and actions to conserve, develop, and manage our fishery resources in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.
Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council
Citizens promoting environmentally safe operation of the Alyeska terminal and associated tankers. Useful pages on
Western Regional Panel on ANS
Works to facilitate a coordinated
Great Lakes Agencies and Programs
Great Lakes Panel on ANS
Binational body comprised of government, industry, academic, and public groups that provide guidance on ANS issues in the
Northeast-Midwest Institute - Aquatic Invasive Species
Dedicated to reducing aquatic invasive species through policy analysis and experimental research.
State Agencies and Programs: AK, CA, HI, OR, and WA
Alaska
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Responsible for monitoring, controlling, and management of invasive species in
Alaska Sea Grant
Supporting wise use and conservation of
California
CALFED Bay-Delta Program
CalFish
A multi-agency cooperative program designed to gather, maintain, and disseminate fish and aquatic habitat data and data standards.
California Department of Fish and Game - Marine Invasive Species Program
California Sea Grant
Sponsors research to enhance coastal and marine resource knowledge. Extension programs pass knowledge base to industry, government, and the public.
California State Lands Commission
Agency responsible for CA Marine Invasive Species Program.
University of Southern California Sea Grant
Research and outreach projects that focus on topics related to the "
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
Department responsible for ballast water and aquatic invasive species issues.
University of Hawaii Sea Grant
Dedicated to improve the understanding and stewardship of marine and coastal resources in the state, region, and nation.
Oregon
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Regulatory agency whose job is to protect the quality of
Oregon Sea Grant
Works to further knowledge of the marine and coastal environments of the
Washington
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Government agency providing stewardship of fish and wildlife in
Washington Sea Grant
Serving the public, industry, and the
Maritime Sector
Maritime Academies
International Association of Maritime Universities
Port and Harbor Associations
California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains, Incorporated
To promote and encourage development of marinas and harbors along sound management, environmental and economic lines, and to assist wherever and whenever possible, any group or individual, whether private or governmental, in the development of new marinas and/or harbors.
Maritime Unions
American Maritime Officers
Today, American Maritime Officers thrives as a national union affiliated with the Seafarers International Union of North America, representing licensed officers in all sectors of the U.S.-flag merchant fleet
The International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P)
The MM&P advocates for: licensed deck officers on U.S.-flag commercial vessels sailing offshore and on the inland waterways and on civilian-crewed ships in the government fleet; state pilots; marine engineers; unlicensed seafarers; and maritime industry shore side clerical and service workers.
Sailors' Union of the Pacific
To maintain and develop skill in seamanship and to effect a change in maritime law towards the development of the American Merchant Marine.
Research Centers
Aquatic Bioinvasions Research and Policy Institute - A joint initiative between Portland State University (PSU) and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). Its primary goal is to advance an array of collaborative and coordinated research, education and outreach activities that focus on the biological aspects of invasions in aquatic (marine and freshwater) ecosystems. Senior Scientists: Dr. Mark Sytsma (PSU) and Dr. Gregory M. Ruiz (SERC).
Dr. James T. Carlton, Williams College - Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program - Interests include world-wide biological invasions of non-native species in coastal environments and modern-day extinctions of marine organisms in sensitive marine and estuarine habitats.
Cawthron Institute Marine Bioinvasions Programme (New Zealand) - The Marine Invaders Programme provides a risk assessment and management model for research into the transport, establishment, impact, and management of exotic species. Senior Scientist: Dr. Mike Taylor.
CSIRO Research - Introduced Marine Pests (Australia) - Works to develop and promote the application of techniques for earlier detection, more accurate prediction of impacts, and effective assessment of risks and costs associated with marine pest species introduced into Australian marine ecosystems, especially South East Australia, and to develop new methods or improve existing measures to control the introduction and spread, and minimize the impacts of exotic marine pest species.
Dr. Fred Dobbs, Old Dominion University - Interests include the ecology of microorganisms in ships' ballast water.
Marine Invasions Research Lab - A national and international center for research on biological invasions in coastal marine ecosystems. Located at the Smithsonian Environmental
Naval Research Lab, Key West - The Naval Research Lab (NRL), partnered with the United State Coast Guard, designed, constructed and operates a prototype Ballast Water Treatment System Test Facility as specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program. The NRL follows ETV Protocol for the Verification of Ballast Water Treatment Technologies.
NOAA National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species - NOAA established this lab, housed at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to assure cross-NOAA leadership, communication, and coordination for NOAA's research investments in support of understanding, preventing, responding to, and managing aquatic species invasions in U.S. coastal ecosystems. Senior Scientist: Dr. David Reid.
San Francisco Estuary Institute Biological Invasions Program - SFEI's Biological Invasions program conducts scientific and policy research and provides information and analyses on the introduction of exotic organisms into marine and freshwater ecosystems. Senior Scientist: Dr. Andrew N. Cohen.
UC Davis Biological Invasions (BioInv) IGERT Program - A National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program. The BioInv IGERT at UC Davis takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study and management of invasive species. The program covers research on both terrestrial and marine invasive species.
Global
AIRD - The Aquatic Invasions Research Directory (AIRD) is an Internet-based, searchable database containing up to the minute information on people, research, technology, policy and management issues relevant to aquatic invasions. The scope of the Directory falls into the following broad areas: aquatic invasions; ballast water; prevention and treatment technologies; and policy and management.
Global Invasive Species Database - Developed by the IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) as part of the global initiative on invasive species led by the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP). It provides global information on invasive species to agencies, resource managers, descision-makers, and interested individuals. The database focuses on invasive species that threaten biodiversity and covers all taxonomic groups from micro-organisms to animals and plants.
NISbase - The International Nonindigenous Species Database Network functions as a search engine for databases on all forms of invasive species research, issues, management, policy...A good way to produce queries on multiple systems and species at once.
United States
NBIC - The National Ballast Information Clearinghouse (NBIC) is a joint program of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and the United States Coast Guard that collects, analyzes, and interprets data on the ballast water management practices of commercial ships that operate in
NEMESIS - The National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System (NEMESIS) is national database of marine and estuarine invasions of the continental
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database - Hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, this site has been established as a central repository for accurate and spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of nonindigenous aquatic species. Provided are scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, regional contact lists, and general information.
Sea Grant National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse - An international library of research, public policy, and outreach education publications pertaining to invasive marine and fresh-water aquatic nuisance species in North America. It is the home of
Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Site (SGNIS) - A national information center that contains a comprehensive collection of research publications and education materials produced by Sea Grant programs and other research institutions across the country on zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species. NOTE: Not currently updated
California
CANOD - Scroll to "Database of all NIS" to download the Database. The California Aquatic Non-Native Organism Database (CANOD) was developed by California Department of Fish and Game. The database contains every known marine and estuarine aquatic non-native speices on the California coast. Includes information about the pathway of introduction (e.g. ballast water, intentional introduction), date of introduction, locations observed, native region of each species and other associated data.
Great Lakes Region
Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Research Inventory (GLSLRI) - An interactive, internet-based, searchable database created as a tool to collect and disseminate up-to-date information about research projects in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region.
Australia
National Introduced Marine Pest Information System (NIMPIS)
This website links to a database on over 80 of the known introduced species in Australian waters, and some information on species yet to be found here. NIMPIS also provides an online, convenient mechanism for members of the public or marine stakeholders to report unusual occurrences.