79 



Lake Carriers' Ajsociation 



U.S. Bouse of Representatives Hearing on BaUast Exchange Control Act 



Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries October 27 1993 



There are ongoing studies to understand the problem. Notably, the U.S. Coast Guard-funded study by 

 Dr. James Carlton, et al. The Role of Shipp in g in the Introduction of Nonindigenous Aquatic Organisms 

 to the Coastal Waters of the United States fother than the Great Lakes^ and an Analysis of Control 

 Options, is under review and should be released soon. The Ruffe Control Committee of the Aquatic 

 Nuisance Species Task Force, Chaired by Tom Busiahn, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has also 

 prepared an excellent paper, Ruffe Control Program . A ballast water managemerit study directed at the 

 Great Lakes and other inland waterways will help fill-in the gap in knowledge on how to minimize 

 spread of nuisance species once found in the internal waters. 



The proposed legislation also calls for the identification of technologies and practices for demonstration. 

 This problem must be studied further and a demonstration program is essential. Lake Carriers' 

 Association offers its expertise and vessels to test reasonable ideas and solutions. However, I must 

 caution these Committees to not make a common mistake when dealing with maritime matters. In too 

 many instances, there is a perception that all ships are alike, that all marine environments are similar. 

 What works for a vessel sailing between Amsterdam and New York can have no relation to a ship 

 trading between Duluth/Superior and Cleveland. For example, we on the Great Lakes do not call on 

 harbors brimming with infectious wastes, a very real problem for ships calling at some world ports. The 

 solutions to the transport of nuisance non-indigenous species in ballast water will probably prove as 

 diverse as all the maritime nations of the world. 



Thank you. 



GJR:GN:mbl 

 10/22/93 



Attachment 



Voluntary Ballast Water Management Plan 



