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 Statement

April 18, 2018

Statement: U.S. Senate votes to block bill rolling back Great Lakes protections

Chicago, IL (4/18/18) – Earlier today, the U.S. Senate blocked the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017 from moving forward because it contained a poison pill for our nation’s waterways. […]

Press Release

April 12, 2018

Senate Scheduled to Vote Next Week on Legislation to Weaken Rules Protecting the Great Lakes from Aquatic Invasive Species Introductions

Joint Media Statement from: Alliance for the Great Lakes • Citizens Campaign for the Environment • Clean Wisconsin • Michigan League of Conservation Voters • Minnesota Environmental Partnership • National Wildlife Federation • […]

Press Release

March 29, 2018

Seaway Opens for 2018 Shipping Season, Risk of Aquatic Invasive Species Introductions Continues

Chicago, IL (March 29, 2018) – Today marks the start of the 60th shipping season on the St. Lawrence Seaway as the locks on the Welland Canal and in Massena, […]

Press Release

February 20, 2018

Statement on Discovery of Bloody Red Shrimp in Lake Superior

February 20, 2018 (Chicago, IL) – Last week, news broke that the bloody red shrimp, an aquatic invasive species, was found in Lake Superior. Alliance for the Great Lakes Vice President […]

Press Release

November 8, 2017

Great Lakes advocates slam Michigan plan to weaken ballast water standards

LANSING—On Wednesday, November 8, leading advocates for the the Great Lakes and Michigan’s natural resources denounced an effort by Michigan legislators to lower the state’s standards for ballast water treatment […]

Standpoint Series

October 13, 2017

On Shipping: Stop Fighting and Start Doing

This is the second of eight articles in the Standpoint Series, a set of short essays meant to articulate our perspective and spark conversation. This time of year, there is a […]

BLOG

May 18, 2017

Hard-Fought Great Lakes Protections Under Attack

Invasive species, like zebra mussels and round gobies, have wreaked havoc on the Great Lakes. Brought in via ballast water tanks on ocean-going ships, invasive species out-compete native species and […]