Convenor

• International Maritime Organization
• Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST)
• PEMSEA

Overview

A workshop to raise awareness on the status, socio-economic impacts and regional strategy  to manage biofouling and prevent invasive aquatic species  in the East Asian Seas

The introduction and establishment of Invasive Aquatic Species (IAS) is considered as one of the threats to the biodiversity of the world’s freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems. The global economic impacts of IAS, including disruption to fisheries, damage to coastal industry and infrastructure, shipping industry, tourism industry and marine ecosystem services, have been estimated at several hundred million dollars per year (IMO). The main vectors of the unintentional transfer of non-indigenous species are ships’ ballast water, biofouling of mobile marine structures and aquaculture practices.

Biofouling is the accumulation of aquatic microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on the surfaces and structures immersed or exposed to the aquatic environment. Significant research during the last 25 years have confirmed that biofouling had been underestimated as a possible vector for non-indigenous species and may in fact be one of the main mechanisms for their introduction or expansion of species into new marine or freshwater habitats. Improving or minimizing biofouling on ships has the added benefit of improving their energy efficiency. As a result, biofouling has been identified as one of the potential key resources that may contribute in the short term to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry.

In order to improve the management of biofouling, minimize its role as a potential vector for the introduction of IAS and help maritime industries to reduce their carbon footprint, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the  GloFouling Partnerships Project in 2019. PEMSEA is the regional coordinating mechanism in the ASEAN/East Asian Seas region. The project includes a conscious effort to seek the expertise accumulated by the private sector, from maritime, shipping, ocean energy, aquaculture and other ocean-based industries as well as academe and policy makers to help identify common difficulties and solutions, facilitate innovative solutions and developed a regional strategy to manage biofouling in the region.

As  part of the awareness raising and stakeholder consultation on the regional strategy, PEMSEA Resource Facility conducts stakeholder and awareness raising dialogue on Biofouling Management and Invasive Aquatic Species during the EAS Congress on  6^th November 2024 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

Programme

Moderator: Ms. Diane Factuar

TIME	AGENDA
1430 – 1445	Welcome and Introduction to Invasive Aquatic Species and Biofouling Management in the EAS region ●    Ms. Diana C. Factuar, Consultant, PEMSEA Resource Facility
1445 – 1520	Sharing of Biofouling Management Initiatives at the Global and National Level (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and the Philippines) Economic Costs of Marine Invasive Species at the Global Scale and China’s Experience on Invasive Aquatic Species ●    Prof. Liu Chunlong, Professor of Fisheries, Ocean University of China National Status Assessment of Biofouling Management to Minimise the Introduction of Invasive Aquatic Species ●    Assoc. Prof. Eur. Ing. Ts. Ir. Dr. Syuhaida Binti Ismail, Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), Malaysia Biofouling Management – MLIT of Japan Initiatives ●    Mr. Masashi Kawabe, Director, International Ocean Affairs Ocean Policy Division, Policy Bureau, MLIT, Japan Challenges in Implementing Biofouling Policies and Programs in the Philippines ●    Ms. Diana C. Factuar, PEMSEA Resource Facility
1520 – 1540	National Rapid Economic Assessment on Biofouling Management and Invasive Aquatic Species of Indonesia Dr. Mochammad Riyanto, IPB, Indonesia Economic Impacts of IAS and Biofouling Management in the Philippines Mr. Renato C. Cardinal, Consultant, PEMSEA Resource Facility
1540 – 1545	Regional Strategy on Biofouling Management in the EAS Region ●    Ms. Aimee T. Gonzales, Executive Director, PEMSEA Resource Facility,
1545 – 1600	Q & A
1600 – 1615	Conclusions, Recommendations and next steps ●    Facilitated by Ms. Diana C. Factuar
1615 – 1630	Virtual reality game