Invasive species in ballast water

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened the Great Lakes to direct ocean-going shipping. Unfortunately, ships brought invasive species along for the ride in their ballast water.

Learn more below about regulations to clean up ship ballast tanks and why it’s critical to plug loopholes that remain for “Lakers,” ships operating solely in the Great Lakes.

Press Release

September 24, 2024

EPA Vessel Discharge Rule Once Again Fails to Protect the Great Lakes

Chicago, IL (September 24, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule regulating ballast water was signed on September 20th. The EPA’s final rule does not protect the […]

Press Release

December 18, 2023

Joint Statement: EPA Rule Fails to Protect the Great Lakes From Invasive Species

Joint statement from the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Environmental Law and Policy Center regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rulemaking under the Vessel […]

Press Release

October 17, 2023

EPA Rule Fails to Protect Great Lakes from Invasive Species

Joint statement from the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the Environmental Law and Policy Center and the National Wildlife Federation regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking […]

Diving Deep for Solutions

August 16, 2023

An Ounce of Prevention: Keeping New Invasive Species Out of the Great Lakes

For our Diving Deep for Solutions series, we commissioned author and journalist Kari Lydersen to examine big issues facing the lakes today and how our expert team at the Alliance […]

Podcast

March 22, 2022

Molly Flanagan Invasive Species

Molly Flanagan joined the Alliance for the Great Lakes staff in April 2015 as Vice President for Policy after seven years as senior program officer at the Joyce Foundation. Molly […]

Press Release

June 23, 2021

Alliance Applauds New Canadian Ballast Water Regulations

Chicago, IL (June 23, 2021) – Earlier today, the Canadian government released new rules on the regulation of ship ballast water. In response, Alliance for the Great Lakes Chief Operating […]

BLOG

February 10, 2020

Alliance Releases 2020 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities

Today, the Alliance for the Great Lakes announced our 2020 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities. With the support of Congress, the Great Lakes region has made significant progress to protect […]

press release

November 28, 2018

House passes Coast Guard bill containing new ballast rules

Chicago, IL (November 28, 2018) – Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, which includes the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). […]

Press Release

November 14, 2018

Great Lakers Applaud Senate Action to Improve Bill on Aquatic Invasive Species

Chicago, IL (November 14, 2018) – Today the U.S. Senate passed legislation which changes how ballast water discharges from ships – the most common pathway for invasive species to enter […]

Press Release

May 31, 2018

Great Lakes Need Protection from Ocean and Freshwater Ships

Chicago, IL (May 31, 2018) –  A new report released today by the Great Waters Research Collaborative has found that lakers — ships that transit solely within Great Lakes waterways […]