MISP - Laws and Regulations

Regulatory Information Sheets
These documents have been developed to help members of the shipping industry understand California’s requirements for preventing the introduction of nonindigenous species via the commercial shipping vector.

  • Ballast Water Management PDF
  • Ballast Water Reporting Form Submission and Recordkeeping PDF
  • Fouling Removal and Hull Husbandry Reporting PDF
  • Performance Standards for Ballast Water Discharge PDF


Proposed Regulations

    Proposed Rulemaking: Amendments to Article 4.7: Performance Standards and Assessment Protocols for the Discharge of Ballast Water for Vessels Operating in California Waters (Updated February 24, 2012)

    • Letter to Interested Parties PDF
    • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking PDF Word
    • Proposed Text of Regulations PDF Word
    • Initial Statement of Reasons PDF Word
    • Economic Impact Assessment PDF Word
    • Technical, Theoretical and/or Empirical Studies, Reports or Documents Relied Upon:
      1. Economic Impact Assessment PDF Word
      2. California State Lands Commission Marine Invasive Species Program, Development of Protocols to Verify Compliance with California’s Ballast Water Performance Standards, Technical Advisory Group Meeting – November 15, 2011, Final Notes. PDF
      3. California State Lands Commission Marine Invasive Species Program, Input for Protocols to Verify Compliance with California’s Ballast Water Performance Standards, Technical Advisory Group Meeting – October 4, 2011, Final Notes. PDF
      4. California State Lands Commission Marine Invasive Species Program, Protocols to Verify Compliance with California’s Ballast Water Performance Standards, Final Technical Advisory Group Meeting Notes – August 11, 2011. PDF
      5. California State Lands Commission Marine Invasive Species Program, Input for Protocols to Verify Compliance with California’s Ballast Water Performance Standards, Technical Advisory Group Meeting – June 9, 2011, Finalized Notes. PDF
      6. Aguirre-Macedo M.L., V.M. Vidal-Martinez, J.A. Herrera-Silveira, D.S. Valdes-Lozano, M. Herrera-Rodriguez, M.A. Olvera-Novoa. 2008.  Ballast water as a vector of coral pathogens in the Gulf of Mexico:  The case of the Cayo Arcas coral reef.  Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56: 1570-1577. PDF
      7. California Department of Fish and Game. 2008. Quagga and Zebra Mussels. Website: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel/. Accessed: 11 September 2008.
      8. Carlton, J.T. 2008. The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha found in North America in 1986 and 1987. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 34:770-773. PDF
      9. Center for Invasive Species Research. Quagga & Zebra Mussels. Website: http://cisr.ucr.edu/quagga_zebra_mussels.html. Accessed: 10 February 2012. 
      10. EPA. 2002.  Method 1106.1: Enterococci in water by membrane filtration using membrane-Enterococcus eschulin iron agar (mE-EIA).  Washington DC. EPA/821-R-02-021. PDF
      11. EPA. 2002.  Method 1603: Escherichia coli (E. coli) filtration using modified membrane-Thermotolerant Escherichia coli Agar (modified mTEC).  Washington DC.  EPA/821-R-02-023. PDF
      12. EPA. 2004. NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual. EPA 305-X-04-001. July 2004. PDF
      13. EPA. 2010. Generic protocol for the verification of ballast water treatment technology. Produced by NSF International, Ann Arbor, MI. EPA/600/R-10/146. September, 2010. PDF
      14. Feyrer, F., H.B. Matern, and P.B. Moyle. 2003. Dietary shifts in a stressed fish assemblage: Consequences of a bivalve invasion in the San Francisco estuary. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 67:277-288. PDF
      15. Hallegraef, G.M. 1998. Transport of toxic dinoflagellates via ships’ ballast water: bioeconomic risk assessment and efficacy of possible ballast water management strategies.  Marine Ecology Progress Series, 168:297-309. PDF
      16. Huq, A., C.A. Grim, R.R. Colwell, G.B. Nair. 2006. Detection, isolation, and identification of Vibrio cholerae from the environment. Current Protocols in Microbiology: 6A.5. PDF
      17. King, D.M. and M.N. Tamburri. 2010. Verifying compliance with ballast water discharge regulations. Ocean Development and International Law, 41: 152-165. PDF
      18. Lee, B., Tamburri, M., and S. Kim. 2011. Proceedings of Ballast Water Discharge Standards Compliance Subject Matter Expert Workshop (draft). US Coast Guard Research and Development Center. UDI#1243. PDF
      19. Lovell, S.J., and Drake, L.A.  2009.  Tiny stowaways:  Analyzing the economic benefits of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency permit regulating ballast water discharges.  Environmental Management, v. 42, p. 546-555. PDF
      20. Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). 2008. Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8). MEPC 58/23. Annex 4. Resolution MEPC.174(58). Adopted on 10 October 2008. PDF
      21. Marine Invasive Species Program. 2011. Summary of the Poisson model applied to various sample volumes and California’s performance standards for ballast water discharge. Technical Advisory Group Meeting Handout. October 4, 2011. PDF
      22. Miller, A.W., M. Frazier, G.E. Smith, E.S. Perry, G.M. Ruiz, and M.N. Tamburri. 2011. Enumerating sparse organisms in ships’ ballast water: why counting to 10 is not so easy. Environmental Science and Technology, 45: 3539-3546. PDF
      23. Nelson, B.N., E.J. Lemieux, L. Drake, D. Kulis. K. Burns, D. Anderson, N. Welshmeyer, S. Smith, C. Scianni, T. Wier, S. Riley, and P. Herring. 2009. Phytoplankton enumeration and evaluation experiments. U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center. Report No. CG-D-06-09. May 2009. PDF
      24. Nichols, F.H., J.K. Thompson, and L.E. Schemel. 1990. Remarkable invasion of San Francisco Bay (California, USA) by the Asian clam Potamocorbula amurensis. II Displacement of a former community. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 66: 95-101. PDF
      25. Peperzak, L. and C.P.D. Brussaard. 2011. Flow cytometric applicability of fluorescent vitality probes on phytoplankton. Journal of Phycology, 47: 692-702. PDF
      26. Pimentel, D., R. Zuniga, and D. Morrison. 2005. Update on the environmental and economic costs associated with alien-invasive species in the United States. Ecological Economics, 52:273-288. PDF
      27. Reavie, E.D., A.A. Cangelosi, and L.E. Allinger. 2010. Assessing ballast water treatments: evaluation of viability methods for ambient freshwater microplankton assemblages. PDF
      28. Reid, D.F., T.H. Johengen, H. MacIssac, F. Dobbs, M. Doblin, L. Drake, G. Ruiz, and P. Jenkins. 2007. Identifying, verifying and establishing options for best management practices for NOBOB vessels. Prepared for: The Great Lakes Protection Fund, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 173 pp. PDF
      29. Ruiz, G.M., T.K. Rawlings, F.C. Dobbs, L.A. Drake, T. Mullady, S. Schoenfeld, A. Hug, and R.R. Colwell. 2000b. Global spread of microorganisms by ships. Nature. 408: 49-50. PDF
      30. Sommer, T., C. Armor, R. Baxter, R. Bruer, L. Brown, M. Chotkowski, S. Culberson, F. Feyrer, M. Gingras, B. Herbold, W. Kimmerer, A. Mueller-Solger, M. Nobriga, and K. Souza. 2007.The collapse of pelagic fishes in the upper San Francisco Estuary. Fisheries, 32:270-277. PDF
      31. Steinberg, M.K. E.J. Lemieux, and L.A. Drake. 2011. Determining the viability of marine protists using a combination of vital, fluorescent stains. Marine Biology, DOI 10.1007/s00227-011-1640-8. Published online 23 February 2011. PDF
      32. Takahashi, CK, Lourenco NGGS, Lopes, TF, Rall, VLM, Lopes, CAM.  2008.  Ballast water: A review of the impact on the world public health.  Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases. 14: 393-408. PDF
      33. USGS 2011. Quagga and Zebra Mussel Sightings Distribution in California, 2007-2011. Website: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/maps/CaliforniaDreissenaMap.jpg. Accessed Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.  Map produced by USGS 2011.

    Proposed Rulemaking: Amendment to Article 4.8: Biofouling Regulations for Vessels Operating in California Waters (Updated March 1, 2012)

    • Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulations (dated February 29, 2012) PDF
    • Revised Text of Proposed Regulations (Third Comment Period) PDF Word
    • Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulations PDF
    • Revised Text of Proposed Regulations PDF
    • Notice of Public Hearing PDF
    • Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period PDF
    • Letter to Interested Parties PDF
    • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking PDF Word
    • Proposed Regulatory Text PDF Word
    • Initial Statement of Reasons PDF Word
    • Technical, Theoretical and/or Empirical Study, Reports, or Documents
        Australian Shipowners Association.  2007.  Assessment of Introduced Marine Pest Risks Associated with Niche Areas in Commercial Shipping.  Final Report. 24 pgs. PDF

        Bradsher, K.  2009.  Cargo ships treading water off Singapore, waiting for work.  New York Times.  Published 13 May 2009. Last viewed 28 June 2011.  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/business/global/13ship.html PDF

        Coutts, A.D.M.  2002.  A biosecurity investigation of a barge in the Marlborough Sounds.  Cawthron Report No. 744 prepared for Heli Harvest Limited.  68 pgs. PDF

        Coutts, A.D.M., Moore, K.M., Hewitt, C.L.  2003.  Ships’ sea-chests: an overlooked transfer mechanism for non-indigenous marine species?  Marine Pollution Bulletin 46: 1504-1515. PDF

        Coutts, A.D.M., Taylor, M.D. 2004.  A preliminary investigation of biosecurity risks associated with biofouling on merchant vessels in New Zealand.  New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38: 215-229. PDF

        Coutts, A.D.M., Dodgshun, T.J.  2007.  The nature and extent of organisms in vessel sea-chests: A protected mechanism for marine bioinvasions.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 54: 875-886. PDF

        Davidson, I.C., Ruiz, G., Sytsma, M.  2007.  The implications of maritime vessel traffic, wetted surface area, and port connectivity for hull-mediated marine bioinvasions on the US West Coast.  Final Report prepared for California State Lands Commission: Marine Invasive Species Program. 42 pgs. PDF

        Davidson, I.C., McCann, L.D., Fofonoff, P.W., Sytsma, M.D., Ruiz, G.M. 2008a.  The potential for hull-mediated species transfers by obsolete ships on their final voyages.  Diversity and Distributions 14: 518-529. PDF

        Davidson, I.C., McCann, L.D., Sytsma, M.D., Ruiz, G.M.  2008b.  Interrupting a multi-species bioinvasion vector: The efficacy of in-water cleaning for removing biofouling on obsolete vessels.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 56: 1538-1544. PDF

        Davidson, I., Sytsma, M., Ruiz, G.  2009a.  Ship fouling: a review of an enduring worldwide vector of nonindigenous species.  Final Report prepared for California State Lands Commission: Marine Invasive Species Program.  47 pgs. PDF

        Davidson, I.C., Brown, C.W., Sytsma, M.D., Ruiz, G.M.  2009b.  The role of containerships as transfer mechanisms of marine biofouling species.  Biofouling 25(7): 645-655. PDF

        Davidson, I., Ashton, G. Ruiz, G., Scianni, C.  2010a. Biofouling as a vector of marine organisms on the US West Coast: a preliminary evaluation of barges and cruise ships.  Final Report prepared for California State Lands Commission.  22 pgs. PDF

        Davidson, I., Ashton, G. Ruiz, G. 2010b. Richness, extent, condition, reproductive status and parasitism of fouling communities on commercial vessels.  Interim report  prepared for California State Lands Commission.  6 pgs. PDF

        Floerl, O., Inglis, G.J., Hayden, B.J.  2005.  A risk-based predictive tool to prevent accidental introductions of nonindigenous marine species.  Environmental Management 35(6): 765-778. PDF

        Floerl, O., Coutts, A. 2009.  Potential ramifications of the global economic crisis on human-mediated dispersal of marine non-indigenous species.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 58(11): 1595-1598. PDF

        Floerl, O., Wilkens, S., Inglis, G.  2010.  Development of a template for vessel hull inspections and assessment of biosecurity risks to the Kermadec and sub-Antarctic islands regions.  NIWA Report CHC2010-086 prepared for Department of Conservation (New Zealand).  58 pgs. PDF

        Floerl, Oliver.  National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (New Zealand). (personal communication, 08/08/2011).

        Hewitt, C., Campbell, M.  2010.  The relative contribution of vectors to the introduction and translocation of invasive marine species.  Final Report prepared for the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.  56 pgs. PDF

        Hopkins, G.A., Forrest, B.M. 2010.  A preliminary assessment of biofouling and non-indigenous marine species associated with commercial slow-moving vessels arriving in New Zealand.  Biofouling 26(5): 613-621. PDF

        Hydrex. 2011.  The slime factor: shipowners/operators can gain enormous savings through advanced underwater hull maintenance technology.  Hydrex White Paper No. 2. http://www.shiphullperformance.org/upload/previewpapers/pdfs/Hydrex_White_Paper_2-Intro. Last accessed 25 July 2011. PDF. 

        IMO. 2011. International Maritime Organization Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases BLG 15/WP.4: Annex 1.  Draft Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships' Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species.  25 pgs. PDF

        Munk, T., Kane, D., Yebra, Y.M.  2009.  The effects of corrosion and fouling on the performance of ocean-going vessels: a naval architectural perspective.  Pgs 148-176.  In Advances in marine antifouling coatings and technologies.  C. Hellio and D. Yebra, Eds.  Woodhead Publishing Limited, Oxford. PDF

        National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions.  2009a.  National biofouling management guidelines for commercial vessels. Published by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. 16 Pgs. PDF

        National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions.  2009b.  National biofouling management guidelines for non-trading vessels.  Published by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. 60 Pgs. PDF

        Pimentel, D., Zuniga, R., Morrison, D.  2005. Update on the environmental and economic costs associated with alien-invasive species in the United States.  Ecological Economics 52: 273-285. PDF

        Ruiz, G.M., Fofonoff, P.W., Steves, B., Foss, S.F., Shiba, S.N.  2011.  Marine invasion history and vector analysis of California: a hotspot for western North America.  Diversity and Distributions 17: 362-373. PDF

        Schultz, M.P., Bendick, J.A., Holm, E.R., Hertel, W.M.  2011.  Economic impact of biofouling on a naval surface ship.  Biofouling 27(1): 87-98. PDF

        Scianni, C., Dobroski, N., Takata, L., Falkner, M.  2010.  Analysis of extended layups of commercial vessels operating in California waters: Implications for vessel fouling and species introductions.  Poster MP45B-02 presented at 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting. Portland, USA. PDF

        Sylvester, F., MacIsaac, H.J.  2010.  Is vessel hull fouling an invasion threat to the Great Lakes?  Diversity and Distributions 16: 132-143. PDF

        Sylvester, F., Kalaci, O., Leung, B., Lacoursie` re-Roussel, A., Murray, C.C., Choi, F.M., Bravo, M.A., Therriault, T.W., MacIsaac, H.J.  2011.  Hull fouling as an invasion vector: can simple models explain a complex problem?  Journal of Applied Ecology 48: 415-423. PDF

        Takata, L., Falkner, M., Gilmore, S.  2006.   Commercial vessel fouling in California: Analysis, evaluation, and recommendations to reduce nonindigenous species release from the non-ballast water vector.  Final Report prepared for the California State Legislature.  83 pgs. PDF

        Takata, L., Dobroski, N., Scianni, C., Falkner, M.  2011.  2011 Biennial report on the California Marine Invasive Species Program.  Final Report prepared for the California State Legislature.  136 pgs. PDF

        Meeting Notes from the California State Lands Commission's Vessel Biofouling Technical Advisory Group

        • August 18, 2010 PDF
        • October 21, 2010 PDF
        • February 14, 2011 PDF
        • April 28, 2011 PDF

         

Regulations (California Code of Regulations Title 2, Division 3, Chapter 1)

  • Article 4.5. Marine Invasive Species Control Fund Fee (Updated October 1, 2009) PDF Word
    • Letter to Shipping Industry PDF Word
  • Article 4.6. Ballast Water Regulations for Vessels Operating Within the Pacific Coast Region PDF Word
  • Article 4.7 Performance Standards for the Discharge of Ballast Water For Vessels Operating in California Waters (Updated November 9, 2010)
    • Letters to the Shipping Industry
      • October 18, 2009: On the installation of sampling facilities to verify compliance with performance standards for ballast water discharge. PDF Word
      • December 22, 2009: Clarification on the applicability of Article 4.7. PDF Word
      • November 9, 2010: On the submission of information for vessels utilizing ballast water treatment on ballast water discharged in California. PDF Word
    • Regulatory Text of Amended Article 4.7 (Attachment A) PDF Word
    • Ballast Water Treatment Technology Annual Reporting Form (Attachment B) PDF
    • Ballast Water Treatment Supplemental Reporting Form (Attachment C) PDF

  • Article 4.8. The Collection of Information Relating to the Hull Husbandry Practices of Vessels for Control of Marine Invasive Species in Waters of California (Updated January 2011) PDF Word
    • Letter to Shipping Agents/Interested Parties PDF Word
    • Hull Husbandry Reporting Form and Instructions PDF Word


Legislation

  • Amendments to the Marine Invasive Species Act (2009) (Assembly Bill 248) PDF Word
    (Updated October 29, 2009)
    Expands the MISP to include the collection of data related to ballast water treatment technology installation and use on vessels operating in California waters. The bill also requires that such vessels maintain certain records related to installed ballast water treatment technologies.
  • Amendments to the Marine Invasive Species Act (2008) (SB 1781) PDF Word
    Alters the implementation date for ballast water performance standards for newly built vessels with ballast water capacity under 5000 metric tons.
  • Amendments to the Marine Invasive Species Act (2007) (AB 740) PDF Word
    Expands the MISP to include management and data collection on “hull fouling”, or organism growth on submerged areas of commercial vessels.

  • Coastal Ecosystems Protection Act of 2006 (SB 497) PDF Word
    Includes authority for the Commission to implement performance standards for the discharge of ballast water and grandfathering of experimental ballast water treatment systems.
  • Marine Invasive Species Act of 2003 (AB 433) PDF Word
    Revises, expands, extends, and renames the 1999 Ballast Water Management for Control of Nonindigenous Species Act.
    • Key Components of the Act (Updated March 13, 2009) PDF Word

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