We conducted a shipboard ballast water test using seawater of extreme turbidity collected from Shanghai Port (China) (>300 mg total suspended solids (TSS)/L), and normal seawater collected in other ports (<100 mg TSS/L). All three types of International Maritime Organization (IMO)-approved ballast water management system (BWMS) tested failed to properly operate because of filter clogging or insufficient generation of oxidants under near-fresh water conditions with extremely high concentration of suspended solid during ballasting. It was also found that the number of microorganisms increased with longer ballast water retention time, with higher numbers in the treated discharge water. The results suggest that when operating a BWMS involving a filter unit in areas with water having high concentrations of suspended solids, the filter unit should be used during ballast water discharge, rather than during ballasting. This method has the advantage of removing ≥50 µm organisms at discharge that could not be removed by a filter during ballasting. For ballast water retained for long storage times, the results suggest the use of BWMSs involving UV units or electrolysis during deballasting. In addition, BWMSs involving electrolysis units provide the opportunity to maintain residual total residual oxidant (TRO) levels, using a partial ballast tank. Although the BWMSs tested are a small subset of the large number of IMO-approved BWMSs, the results demonstrate that there is a significant gap between the technology currently available and capacity to meet IMO and US Coast Guard standards.

An in situ mesocosm experiment was performed to investigate the combined effects of ocean acidification and warming on the coastal phytoplankton standing stock and species composition of a eutrophic coastal area in the temperate-subtropical region. Experimental treatments of natural seawater included three CO₂ and two temperature conditions (present control: ~400 μatm CO₂ and ambient temperature, acidification conditions: ~900 μatm CO₂ and ambient temperature, and greenhouse conditions: ~900 μatm CO₂ and ambient temperature +3 °C). We found that increased CO₂ concentration benefited the growth of small autotrophic phytoplankton groups: picophytoplankton (PP), autotrophic nanoflagellates (ANF), and small chain-forming diatoms (DT). However, in the greenhouse conditions, ANF and DT abundances were lower compared with those in the acidification conditions. The proliferation of small autotrophic phytoplankton in future oceanic conditions (acidification and greenhouse) also increased the abundance of heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HDF). These responses suggest that a combination of acidification and warming will not only increase the small autotrophic phytoplankton standing stock but, also, lead to a shift in the diatom and dinoflagellate species composition, with potential biogeochemical element cycling feedback and an increased frequency and intensity of harmful algal blooms.

Copepods, the dominant member of zooplankton and major grazers of phytoplankton in the pelagic ecosystem, are at risk from exposure to antifouling biocides. To evaluate the developmental toxicity of antifouling biocides (Diuron, Irgarol 1051, Sea-nine 211) and wastewater (from high-pressure water blasting (WHPB) and its MeOH extract (WHPB-MeOH)) in the copepod Paracalanus parvus sl, we investigated the chemical concentration, egg-hatching rate, and nauplius mortality. WHPB samples were obtained through hull-cleaning activities involving WHPB in a dry dock. Among the biocides, Sea-nine 211 had the strongest effects on hatching rates and nauplius mortality, which was followed by Diuron and Irgarol 1051. In the WHPB and WHPB-MeOH samples, there was no significant difference between the experimental groups in terms of the egg-hatching rate; however, WHPB was found to be more toxic in terms of nauplius mortality, suggesting that metals in WHPB may also adversely affect nauplius survival in P. parvus sl. A comparison of the LC₅₀ results of Sea-nine 211 and WHPB revealed that WHPB had a negative effect on nauplius mortality even at a 100-fold lower concentration. Therefore, if chemical contaminants generated during in-water cleaning activity are discharged continuously into the ports without being properly collected through a post-treatment system, they are expected to negatively impact the population of copepods near the port. Although verification is needed through additional experiments, our results could be used for a baseline study concerning the toxicity of antifouling biocides on marine copepod species.

Herein, we evaluate the scientific basis for managing hull fouling of ships entering Korean ports, diagnose biological risks that may occur when in-water cleaning (IWC) systems remove hull fouling, and present a protocol for evaluating these risks (the Korean Infection Modes and Effects Analysis; K-IMEA). Protocol development included the selection of core elements and scenario design for IWC and the evaluation of regrowth experiments. The K-IMEA index was designed by considering the inoculation pathway of attaching organisms in all processes to ships that enter a port for in-water cleaning. A number of risk indices were defined: R1—Introduction/Establishment of alien species before in-water cleaning; R2—Establishment of alien species escaped during in-water cleaning; R3—Introduction/Establishment of alien species after in-water cleaning; and R4—Establishment of alien species in effluent water. K-IMEA regrowth experiments (R2 and R4) using the in-water cleaning effluent showed that the attachment and regrowth of prokaryotes, microalgae, and macroalgae were successfully detected. In particular, prokaryotes were observed in samples filtered through a 5 μm mesh of the in-water cleaning effluent, even at a low fouling rating (Levels 1–2). These experiments suggest a necessity to consider a secondary treatment method in addition to the primary filtration method for the treatment of in-water cleaning effluents.

In this study, we investigate the distribution of calanoid copepod eggs in the sediments of Masan Bay (South Sea, Korea), in which hypoxic conditions occur every summer. In August (2011), hypoxia was observed at all stations, while normoxia was observed in April (2012). The pH and hydrogen sulphide concentration at the sediment-water interface in the inner bay during August were 7.7 and >20 mol L⁻¹, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the stations in April. The abundance of eggs in the sediment ranged from 0.69 to 1.49 × 10⁶ eggs m⁻² in August, and from 0.59 to 1.08 × 10⁶ eggs m⁻² in April. Notably, the proportion of abnormal eggs was high (a maximum of 77.1%) in August, and a uniform distribution of normal eggs (>80%) was observed in April. A generation of abnormal eggs hatched with deformed nauplii in Masan Bay during the summer, and a failure to hatch was likely due to the high H₂S concentration and low pH caused by hypoxia. In this paper, we discuss the effects of hypoxia and seabed environments on the hatching success of calanoid copepod eggs.