Ballast Water Convention

The Ballast Water Convention is an international agreement aimed at preventing the spread of harmful aquatic species through ships' ballast water. Ballast water is taken on by ships to maintain stability during voyages, and it often contains organisms from different environments. When ships discharge this water in new locations, it can introduce invasive species that disrupt local ecosystems. The Convention requires ships to treat their ballast water to remove or kill these organisms before discharge, helping protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems around the world.