Bilge water as a vector for the spread of marine pests: a morphological, metabarcoding and experimental assessment

Abstract

Vessel movements are considered the primary anthropogenic pathway for the secondary spread of marine non-indigenous species. In comparison to the well-studied mechanisms of hull fouling and ballast water, the importance of bilge water for domestic and cross-regional spread of non-indigenous species is largely unknown and has the potential to compromise the overall effectiveness of biosecurity management actions. In this study, the diversity and abundance of biological material contained in bilge water from 30 small vessels ( < 20 m) was assessed using traditional and molecular identification tools (metabarcoding of the 18S rRNA gene). Laboratory-based studies were also used to investigate the relationship between voyage duration and propagule success. A large taxonomic diversity in organisms was detected, with 118 and 45 distinct taxa identified through molecular and morphological analyses, respectively. Molecular techniques identified five species recognised as non-indigenous to the study region in 23 of the 30 bilge water samples analysed. Larvae and fragments passed through an experimental bilge pump system relatively unharmed. Time spent in the bilge sump was found to affect discharge success, particularly of short-lived and sensitive larvae, but survival for 3 days was observed. Our findings show that bilge water discharges are likely to pose a non-negligible biosecurity threat and that further research to identify high-risk vessel operating profiles and potential mitigation measures are warranted.