RIASSUNTO
Abstract
Marine Bio-Security is a global concern with significant relevance to the off-shore gas and oil production and exploration sector. An avalanche of legislation and regulation is delivering enforceable laws which compel ship owners/operators to adopt prescriptive procedures, protocols and practices to ensure that ballast water is eliminated, or at least substantially reduced as a major vector for the translocation of non-indigenous marine pests (NIMPS).
The other main vector for the translocation of NIMPS has been identified as the wetted hull of commercial and military shipping and includes offshore support vessels, mobile offshore drilling units, crew transfer vessels, barges, landing craft and pipe laying vessels. Hull bio-fouling and associated niche areas are presently under the scientific microscope…and will follow the same path in terms of legislation and regulation.
Australia, through its Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) released the "Proposed Australian Biofouling Management Requirements – Consultation Regulation Impact Statement 2011", where at page 39 it, "recommends regulation, because it is more likely to substantively contribute to reducing the risk of non-indigenous marine species establishing in Australia's marine environment, than an alternate education program". And in June 2012, the Federal Government announced the Final Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network, which – once proclaimed under national environmental law – will increase the number of marine reserves from 27 to 60, expanding the national network to cover more than a third of Commonwealth Waters, covering 3.1 million square kilometers that would make up the biggest ocean conservation sanctuary in the world. The 2012 NSW Marine Parks Independent Scientific Audit made numerous recommendations relating to the identification, management and eradication of marine invasive species where it recommended legislative power enabling "Closure" powers across the NSW Marine Park Estate to support management of pest or disease outbreaks.
Ultimately, the industry's positive attitude to embracing new and innovative technology will further highlight and enhance its environmental credentials and stewardship in pioneering new ways of dealing with old problems. Marine bio-security in the sector will continue to increase in importance as legislation and regulation drive compliance within the Offshore Oil & Gas exploration and production industry. Improving and maintaining the health of marine eco-systems, demands an innovative environmentally sustainable solution!
Australian innovation has delivered a dramatic and viable in-water solution for the reduction and/or elimination of non-indigenous marine species presenting as a bio-security risk. The (patented) process of delivering a ‘thermal shock’ through the encapsulation of heated sea water to the relevant wetted surfaces has proven to deliver a 100% mortality rate.