Date of Graduation
Spring 5-16-2025
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)
College/School
College of Arts and Sciences
Department/Program
Environmental Management
First Advisor
Simon Scarpetta
Abstract
Installation of advanced technologies to treat ballast water on ships is necessary to meet current ballast water management standards and reduce the secondary spread of invasive species during intracoastal voyages. This research includes a literature review on non-native aquatic species, particularly diapausing eggs, and available treatment methods for installation. A comparative analysis from 2014 - 2024 on bulker, tanker, and container vessels arriving coastwise to the ports of San Francisco and Baltimore was performed to evaluate treatment installation trends, traffic patterns, and the effectiveness of treatment(s) on targeting diapausing eggs. Use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation combined with filtration has increased across the decade for both ports. However, this combination is less effective against diapausing eggs. The San Francisco port experiences high vessel traffic within California, while Baltimore sees variable traffic across Canada, New Jersey, and New York. Macro-level invasive organisms like the European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) pose significant economic, environmental, and ecological damage, while microorganisms like Cholera (Vibrio cholerae) risk contaminating the water supply through ballast discharge. Treatment methods fall into five categories: mid-ocean exchange, mechanical, physical, chemical, and a combination of treatments. Based on analysis results, this research recommends expanding East Coast research on secondary spread via intracoastal traffic by applying West Coast frameworks by using publicly accessible data, such as the NBIC, to conduct risk assessments. Additional field research on diapausing eggs is needed, using Artemia (brine shrimp) as a model organism. Given the current understanding, filters are recommended as a primary treatment against diapausing eggs.
Recommended Citation
Ibarra-Cortes, Jasmin, "Analyzing Ballast Water Treatments, Invasive Species, and Pathogens, and A Decade-Long Analysis on the San Francisco and Baltimore Ports" (2025). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1897.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1897
Included in
Environmental Studies Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
