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'Clean Up the Ballast' Campaign underway
Updated: 4/23/2007 6:22 PM
By: Amy Ohler
According to environmental groups over the past few years, more and more aquatic invasive species have made their way to New York State. Executive Director of Save the River, Jennifer Caddick says many of the invasive species are coming in through ship ballast tanks.
"And ships carry ballast to stabilize them when they aren't carrying full loads of cargo but whether or not those tanks are empty or full there still is either water or sludge in there that harbors invasive species so that's the main way that invaders get into our waters here on the river," said Caddick.
That's why Save the River is kicking off its “Clean Up Ballast” Campaign. The campaign is calling for an immediate ocean vessel moratorium.
Administrator of the St. Lawrence Development Corp says quote, "The proposal to close the Seaway to ocean going vessels would be impossible to implement under existing international law, devastating to the economy of the Great Lakes region, and ineffective in solving the problem of invasive species. The Seaway is working actively with Great Lakes United, The Save the River, and the maritime industry to achieve a real solution - passage of federal ballast water legislation this year."
Both Save the River and the DEC agree that invasive species are the biggest threat to our natural eco system. Now there are ballast water regulations in place but Caddick says they're not enough."
"Those regulations have been on the books for over ten years now and we're still seeing more invasive species coming in," said Caddick.
"Are we ever going to eliminate the potential import of these invasive species probably not but people on there own need to be a little more vigilant and governments need to be more watchful," said Stephen Litwhiler, DEC Region 6 Spokesperson.
Both Lithwhiler and Caddick say people can help stop the spread of invasive species by cleaning off their fishing gear before entering new waterways.
Lithwhiler says people should also not transfer fire wood from their home to their camps because of invasive species.
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