St. Lawrence Seaway Management CorporationSt. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

Great Lakes Ballast Water Collaborative

In 2009, the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation initiated the formation of the Great Lakes Ballast Water Collaborative, in conjunction with the International Joint Commission, to bring together industry and state and federal regulators on the issue of ballast water and invasive species in the region. One of the primary goals of the Collaborative is to share relevant, useful, and accurate information and foster better communication and collaboration among the key stakeholders engaged in the effort to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species. A particular emphasis of the Collaborative has been to bring state representatives together with marine industry representatives and respected scientists to find workable and effective solutions to the aquatic invasive species challenge as they relate to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System. The aim of the Collaborative is not to take away from any preexisting efforts in this regard, but rather to complement those efforts.