Antifouling refers to material commonly used on
the hulls of ships or other marine equipment to stop sea creatures such as
limpets, molluscs and algae attaching themselves and causing damage to
equipment and effecting vessel performance, as well as gaining a free ride
around the world's oceans.
Toxic paints(known as antifouling paints)are commonly
used. One of the most common ingredient used in antifouling paint is a chemical
called tributyl tin (TBT). TBTs slowly dissolves off ship hulls getting into the surrounding
seawater and accumulating around harbours and along shipping lanes. This is
then ingested by various marine creatures and eventually gets into the food
chain.
In December 1998, the Minister for the Environment
and Heritage launched Australia's Oceans Policy, the first comprehensive plan
to protect and sustainably manage our oceans.
Internationally, the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) has focused attention on the impacts of Tributyltin
(TBT) and other organotins. The IMO has proposed a
global ban on the application of all organotins
(including TBT) used as antifoulants after 1 January
2003, and a ban on the presence of organotins on
vessels after 1 January 2008.
Australia's Oceans Policy proposes a ban on the
application of TBT on vessels in Australia from 1 January 2006 unless the IMO
ban comes into force earlier, in which case Australia will follow the IMO's timing. As well as recognising the detrimental
environmental effects of TBT, Australia's Oceans Policy identifies the role
that hull fouling plays in the global transport of introduced marine pests.
The Joint Standing Committee on Conservation (SCC)
and Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (SCFA) National Taskforce
on the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions reported to the
Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and
the Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture (MCFFA) on 24
December 1999. The report recommends an increased focus on the prevention of
hull fouling as a vector for the introduction of introduced marine pests. The
report also recommends the development of a cost-effective, environmentally
acceptable and safe alternative to TBT.
As there is a clear need
both nationally and internationally for effective alternatives, the Commonwealth
Government has committed funding to the Antifouling Program to assist the
development of suitable alternatives to TBT.