Jim Morrison
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(250) 756-7233 fax (250) 756-7162
morrisonj_at_dfo-mpo.gc.ca
SCIENTISTS TEST BALLAST WATER TREATMENT TO PROTECT CANADIAN COASTAL WATERS
VANCOUVER– Scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada recently tested new
technology that could help protect Canadian waters from exotic species
introduced through ballast water.
A new technique, demonstrated by the Velox Ballast Water Treatment System at
the Port of Vancouver last April, yielded good results.
The ballast system, designed in Canada by Velox Technology Inc., may be an
alternative method to mid-ocean ballast exchange, which is currently
employed by the shipping industry. Exotic species can arrive in the ballast
water of ships while they are docked, on the hull of ships, through pet
stores and research institutions, or with live, imported bait or seafood.
The test of the Velox System was done in two treatment phases: seawater was
run through a cyclonic separator to remove larger particles, and then
through a photochemical reactor, to kill organisms in the system. Scientists
at West Vancouver Laboratory tested each phase of the treatment procedure
for the impact on naturally-occurring plankton.
"Our experiments reveal that the Velox Ballast Water Treatment System
impacts the survivorship of phytoplankton, microscopic floating plants,"
said Terri Sutherland, a research scientist with Fisheries and Oceans
Canada.
"The experimental results of the Velox Treatment System tests are
significant from a marine habitat protection perspective," said Sutherland.
"We are currently carrying out further tests to look at species-specific
responses of invertebrate larvae (mussels, oysters, and clams) and
potentially harmful phytoplankton to varying treatment levels. As
technological advances, like the Velox system, continue to improve the
screening of exotic species from ballast water, it minimizes the risk of
exposing our indigenous species to potentially harmful ‘hitch-hikers’ that
can erode an otherwise healthy marine environment, " concluded Sutherland.
This year, the European Green Crab arrived in British Columbia, probably by
tidal currents arising from Washington State. Originally this species may
have been introduced through ballast water exchange in California. This crab
may pose a threat to indigenous shellfish stocks in BC.
Ballast water is the dead-weight tonnage that ocean-going freighters are
required to take on to maintain stability and ship integrity after unloading
their cargo. Exotic species, caught while the ship takes on ballast water,
are plants and animals that do not occur naturally in an area where the
water is exchanged or discharged. Their introduction into Canadian coastal
waters has potentially negative effects on local, indigenous species.
For more information:
Terri Sutherland, Research Scientist
West Vancouver Laboratory
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(604) 666-8537
Colin Levings,
Head-Coastal Marine Habitat Science
West Vancouver Laboratory
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(604) 666-7915
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