Definition

An international treaty that aims to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms  from one region to another, by establishing standards and procedures for the management and control of ships' ballast water and sediments. It was adopted in 2004 but has not yet entered into force.

Its biodiversity relevance is that ballast water is a common way through which alien invasive species are introduced in the marine environment.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2014 ¹