New York backs down on Great Lakes shipping rules

OTTAWA – Canada on Friday welcomed New York State’s reversal on proposed ballast water rules aimed at preventing foreign species from invading the Great Lakes, restrictions Ottawa said would have hampered trade.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation this week announced it would not implement the new regulations, which would have impacted shipping in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway and affected bil- lions of dollars in commerce.

Instead, NYDEC commissioner Joe Martens said the state would adhere to U.S. federal laws.

“Canada applauds New York state for withdrawing its unattainable ballast water requirements and agrees that uniform standards are the best way to protect the marine environment,” parliamentary secretary for transport Pierre Poilievre said in a statement.

“We welcome this action as enforcement of the rules on transiting ships would have stopped commercial shipping on the seaway.”

Ballast water uptake – water from coastal port areas with which ships fill their ballast tanks to maintain stability during travel – is known to pick up plants and animals.

The water is usually dumped or exchanged at the next port of call.

The unloading of unmanaged ballast water in Great Lakes ports has led to invasive species being introduced in the past into waters that Canada shares with the United States.

But Canada has said adequate measures have been taken to minimize this risk, noting that there have been no new species attributed to ballast water reported in the Great Lakes since 2006.

Currently all vessels arriving from overseas must exchange ballast water in mid-ocean before arrival to reduce the number of potential invaders in ballast tanks and reduce their survival after they are discharged into the fresh waters of the Great Lakes.

All vessels entering the seaway from outside Canadian waters are inspected before they enter the Great Lakes to ensure they are in compliance.