The international GloFouling Partnerships project is to combat the negative environmental impacts of the transfer of aquatic species through ships.
The GloFouling Partnerships project is a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It will address the build-up of aquatic organisms on a ship’s underwater hull and on other marine mobile infrastructure.
Best Practices and Improved Biofouling Management
The GloFouling project will drive actions to implement the IMO Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling. The project will also spur the development of best practices and standards for improved biofouling management in other ocean industries.
Twelve Countries to Spearhead GloFouling
Twelve countries, representing a mix of developing nations and Small Island Developing States, have been selected to spearhead the work of the GloFouling project: Brazil, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tonga.
Grant and Public-private Support
The GEF provides a USD 6.9 million grant to deliver a range of governance reforms at the national level, through numerous capacity-building activities, training workshops and opportunities for technology adoption to help address the issue of invasive species. Strong participation from private sector stakeholders is also expected.
Increasing Awareness
While IMO will focus on shipping, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) will lead the approach to other marine sectors to develop best practices in biofouling management. IOC-UNESCO will work hand in hand with the GloFouling project to increase awareness of this environmental challenge among key stakeholders.
Engaging the Private Sector
The World Ocean Council (WOC) has been selected to engage and channel the participation of private sector companies for the development of best industry practices in non-shipping sectors such as aquaculture and oil and gas extraction.
Endorsement
The GloFouling Project has already received endorsement from over forty major stakeholders, representing academia, industry associations, technology developers and private sector companies covering a broad spectrum of the blue economy.
Picture: A ship hull on which a protective film called "Thorn-D" has been applied (by Pieters7).
