Great Lakes to tighten rules on freighter ballast water

Interesting article from Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel regarding the zebra mussel and other invasive species in the Great Lakes. It appears that a Republican rep from MI has proposed tougher standards on the ships and where and when they can dump their ballast water. Ballast water is the suspected culprit in introducing zebra mussels as well as 100s of other non-native species into the Great Lakes, threatening fishing and tourism.

Maybe an issue both Dems and Reps. can fight together? Dare I say that?

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/mar05/310561.asp (if it asks you to register, use www.bugmenot.com)

Sounds like big shipping will fight this. Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) just sold one of its aging freighters (Ferbec, now Michalakis) to land-locked Mongolia, sailing a Chinese crew, with a Singapore flag to Alang, India where worker rights, safety concerns, and environmental protections are not taken into consideration. Greenpeace has filed suit against the company for releasing hazardous waste into the environment. New business verture for Mongolia to scrap ships at a reduced cost to wealthy western shipping companies. Watch the now outlawed single-hulled oil tankers change hands at an amazing rate to avoid environmental groups and lax governments.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2005/10/c3191.html

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/050310/b0310162.html

DECADES AGO.

in other invasive species. Funny how the enviromentalist message falls on deaf ears until it's too late. huh?

Perhaps better late than never.