The aim of this guideline is to aid maritime administrators, or other lead agencies working with ballast water management, to assess and quantify (as appropriate and possible) the potential economic consequences of unintended marine species introductions. Such economic understanding is intended to support sound decision making in relation to invasive alien species (IAS) risk reduction, preparedness and response planning, and in particular as a source of information for the development of a National Ballast Water Management Strategy.
Includes bibliographic references. Also available in separate Arabic, English, and French language versions.