DAR	  Ballast	  Water	  and	  Hull	  Fouling	  Project,	  FY08	  DAR	  implemented	  recently	  adopted	  Hawaii	  Administrative	  Rules,	  Chapter	  13-­‐76,	  relating	  to	  Non-­‐Indigenous	  Aquatic	  Species.	  The	  unintentional	  introduction	  of	  alien	  aquatic	  species	  within	  the	  ballast	  water	  of	  ocean-­‐going	  vessels	  is	  an	  internationally	  recognized	  threat	  to	  native	  ecosystems.	  The	  goals	  of	  these	  rules	  are	  to	  minimize	  the	  introduction	  and	  spread	  of	  alien	  aquatic	  species	  through	  ship	  ballast	  water	  into	  waters	  surrounding	  the	  Hawaiian	  Islands.	  The	  rules	  include	  guidance	  relating	  to	  the	  exchange	  of	  vessel	  ballast	  water	  prior	  to	  entry	  into	  the	  State,	  record	  keeping,	  and	  reporting	  of	  such	  activities.	  Compliance	  is	  being	  verified	  by	  reviewing	  required	  ballast	  water	  reporting	  forms	  sent	  in	  24	  hours	  prior	  to	  a	  vessel’s	  arrival.	  This	  information	  enables	  the	  State	  to	  better	  assess	  the	  potential	  risk	  that	  an	  incoming	  vessel	  might	  contain	  alien	  species	  in	  its	  ballast	  water	  holds.	  Rules	  have	  been	  successful	  in	  allowing	  us	  to	  work	  with	  the	  shipping	  industry	  on	  ballast	  water	  management	  and	  limit	  the	  amount	  of	  ballast	  water	  discharged	  here.	  	  DAR	  has	  been	  working	  with	  the	  Alien	  Aquatic	  Organism	  Task	  Force	  (AAOTF)	  to	  develop	  a	  comprehensive	  plan	  for	  preventing	  the	  introduction	  and	  dispersal	  of	  alien	  aquatic	  organisms	  found	  on	  the	  hulls	  of	  vessels	  into	  state	  waters.	  The	  Task	  Force	  includes	  representatives	  from	  state	  and	  federal	  agencies,	  shipping	  industries,	  the	  scientific	  community	  and	  non-­‐government	  organizations.	  The	  State	  is	  in	  the	  process	  of	  reviewing	  and	  conducting	  studies,	  as	  well	  as	  looking	  at	  how	  others	  are	  managing	  this	  vector	  to	  get	  a	  clearer	  understanding	  of	  how	  to	  address	  the	  hull	  fouling	  issues	  in	  Hawaii.	  Currently,	  the	  State	  is	  addressing	  hull	  fouling	  events	  that	  would	  be	  considered	  high	  risk	  in	  introducing	  alien	  aquatic	  organisms	  to	  Hawaii.	  This	  includes	  following	  up	  on	  unexpected	  arrivals	  of	  vessels	  and	  working	  with	  the	  Navy	  to	  have	  their	  decommissioned	  vessel	  cleaned	  of	  aquatic	  invasive	  species	  before	  calling	  port	  in	  Hawaii.	  

Inspection	  of	  a	  ship’s	  hull.	  	  Rigorous	  aquatic	  alien	  species	  inspections	  are	  required	  of	  all	  vessels	  entering	  the	  Papahanaumokuakea	  Marine	  National	  Monument.	  This	  helps	  maintain	  the	  biosecurity	  of	  the	  largest	  conservation	  area	  in	  the	  Country	  and	  the	  largest	  protected	  marine	  area	  in	  the	  World.	  This	  includes	  underwater	  inspections	  of	  the	  hulls	  and	  sea	  chests,	  inspection	  of	  scientific	  gear	  and	  reviewing	  their	  ballast	  water	  management	  plans.	  
Adapting	  new	  technologies	  aid	  in	  monitoring	  of	  aquatic	  invasive	  species.	  The	  use	  of	  a	  remotely	  operated	  vehicles	  and	  underwater	  pole	  cameras	  has	  been	  utilized	  to	  conduct	  underwater	  inspections.	  They	  are	  used	  to	  overcome	  many	  security	  and	  almost	  all	  safety	  issues	  when	  conducting	  underwater	  inspections.	  The	  State	  now	  has	  the	  capacity	  to	  keep	  divers	  out	  of	  the	  water	  when	  there	  are	  issues	  relating	  to	  water	  quality	  and/or	  the	  physical	  dangers	  of	  diving	  under	  large	  vessels	  or	  in	  a	  harbor	  habitat.	  
To	  fill	  the	  gap	  of	  early	  detection	  of	  aquatic	  invasive	  species,	  a	  capacity	  for	  early	  detection	  in	  the	  field	  teams	  of	  DAR	  was	  established.	  This	  included	  training	  on	  identification	  and	  collecting	  techniques	  of	  marine	  invertebrates	  and	  algae,	  and	  the	  acquiring	  of	  resources	  for	  documentation,	  identification,	  and	  preservation	  of	  unknown	  species.	  	  A	  remotely	  operated	  vehicle	  for	  carrying	  out	  hull	  inspections	  where	  safety	  or	  security	  issues	  affect	  a	  diver’s	  ability	  to	  do	  inspections.