GloFouling Partnerships project, originally scheduled to finish in December 2023 was extended for 1.5 years and now with just a little over 2 years left until it's completion in May 2025, has started its next stage to deliver all the remaining activities. The project's core objective is to capacitate beneficiary countries to implement the IMO's Biofouling Guidelines for the control and management of ships' biofouling. Since the beginning of the project all Lead Partnering countries (LPCs) has established their task forces, have finalized national biofouling management status assessments and majority have completed general training course on biofouling management. The Project also works in six regions with five Regional Coordinating Organizations, who have also established their regional task forces consisting of the member states and are developing regional biofouling management strategies.
Please see below outlined achievements in the first half of 2023.
Regional activities
Arab Women In Maritime - Biofouling Management Workshop (AWIM-BMW)
Women represent only 1.28 % of global seafarer workforce and . To help reduce existing disparities in the shipping sector by increasing women representation to 50% in biofouling management related activities, GloFouling Partnerships project supports developing countries to achieve SDG 5 - "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls". To raise awareness about the key aspects of the project – invasive aquatic species, and to help close this gender gap the Project organized first ever Arab Women in Maritime – Biofouling Management Workshop, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 10-11 May 2023 in Jeddah.
The event brought together over thirty participants representing twelve Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. To learn more about the event see the short post workshop video below and read more about it here.
Global activities
International workshop and demonstration site in MPAs and PSSAs
The GloFouling Partnerships organized an international workshop and demonstration site on prevention, early detection and rapid response to invasive aquatic species transferred through biofouling on ships in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs).The activity took place from 6 to 9 June 2023, in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
The event brought together international experts and representatives of the LPCs of the GloFouling Project and it focused on:
Practices and recommendations on the prevention, early detection and rapid response to invasive aquatic species transferred through biofouling on ships;
Demonstration of practices and technologies for inspection of ship hulls; and
Demonstration of practices and technologies for rapid response and contention of invasive aquatic species transferred as biofouling on ships.
The main outcome of this will be a report bringing together recommendations and a wealth of resources on the specific aspects that MPA administrators need to consider when developing biosecurity measures related to vessel biofouling as a vector for invasive aquatic species. Due to be published in 2024. For more about this event read here.
Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety
The Project's alliance with the private sector to support two key IMO pressing environmental objectives via improved biofouling management: protect marine biodiversity and decarbonize shipping is attracting more companies to join. Hempel - Hull Performance Solutions and Lloyd's Register - Classification Society were the latest additions in 2023, totaling to fourteen members, plus one with the observer status.
The GIA for Marine Biosafety held two quarterly meetings so far:
During the 10th quarterly meeting in February 2023 a production of a long-audio-visual feature was approved. It will focus on showcasing the environmental and economic impacts of invasive aquatic species in local communities and countries at large. It will be a half an hour production with aim to help raising awareness on one of the biggest threats for marine biodiversity loss. Follow the link to read more about the GIA approved programme of work for 2023.
During the 11th quarterly meeting in April 2023 the implementation progress and further action for successful outcomes were discussed.
The GIA is scheduled to meet twice more in 2023.
Free eLearning course Introduction to biofouling: impacts and management of risks
The GloFouling Partnerships project has now opened to the public a free of charge course “Introduction to biofouling: impacts and management of risks”. The course includes materials, videos, animations, quizzes, a roleplay exercise, and a test. A digital certificate is awarded on successful completion. It provides a detailed introduction to multiple aspects related to ships’ biofouling, its role as a vector for the introduction of invasive aquatic species and the management solutions and technologies that are available.
The Project is currently translating the course into Spanish and is scheduled to make it available at the beginning of 2024.
World Aquaculture Society (WAS) is one of the project's strategic partners, who held World Aquaculture Singapore conference 2022 (held from 29 November to 2 December 2022). It is an international trade show conference with aim to introducing the latest aquaculture technologies presented by exhibitors from around the world. During the event the report (published by IOC-UNESCO and GloFouling Partnerships) entitled Biofouling Prevention and Management in the Marine Aquaculture Industry was distributed and received very highly by the participants. The report is focusing on addressing biofouling management in marine aquaculture industry operations, equipment and infrastructure. Read more about the event: here
