Foiling the Use of Harmful Chemicals in Anti-Fouling Ship Paints

New Global Environment Facility-funded project aims to tackle the problem in China’s high seas and waterways

Washington, DC, 27 September 2006 - Worldwide, barnacles and seaweeds have long been the bane of fisher folk, fouling hulls and the bottoms of fishing boats, increasing friction while decreasing navigation efficiency and ultimately profits.To thwart these sea organisms, fishing boat owners use antifouling paints laced with toxic chemicals. Such practices also have the unintended effect of threatening human health, harming aquatic wildlife, and polluting marine environments.

In response, the Global Environment Facility is developing a new multi-million dollar project to eliminate the mixing of DDT (dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane) in antifouling paint used in China.

“Curbing the use of DDT and other toxic chemicals in antifouling paint benefits people and the environment,” said Monique Barbut, CEO of the Washington-based Global Environment Facility (GEF) that funds environmental projects all over the developing world. “This project will help China eliminate the use of poisonous chemicals in its thriving fishing industry.”

China, one of the world’s oldest maritime nations has one of the world’s longest coastlines. China uses about 65,000 metric tonnes of antifouling paint annually (1 tonne = 1.10 ton). It is the only nation still using the harmful chemical DDT in antifouling paints.

“Merchant ships and fishing vessels serve as the economic and social lifeline of many countries,” said Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the London-based United Nations specialized agency responsible for regulating the maritime sector. “We are committed to promoting safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans and are pleased that the GEF is helping one of our largest Member States to achieve one of the Organization’s goals, which is the prevention of harm to the marine environment from ships’ anti-fouling systems.”

Project estimates show that of the 65,000 metric tonnes of antifouling paint used in China, about 5,000 metric tonnes contain DDT. This persistent organic pollutant ends up residing in fatty tissue of humans and marine wildlife, retaining its toxicity for long periods of time, and playing havoc on coastal and marine environments.

The project, to be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was reviewed by the GEF Council at a special meeting in Cape Town in late August 2006. The GEF serves as a financing mechanism for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. China became a signatory to the Convention in May 2001.

The IMO supports the implementation of the project which will assist China to put in place the necessary measures for acceptance and effective implementation of the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, adopted by IMO in 2001, thereby also promoting the treaty’s entry into force globally.

China's burgeoning coastal cities are the engines of economic growth in the country, and contribute significantly to the spectacular double-digit growth rates of the economy. Coastal fishing is an important source of livelihoods, involving nearly 300,000 fishing ships widely distributed along the coastline. The residual DDT in antifouling paint production is one of the main sources of DDT-pollution in China.

Additional benefits from the project include development of a management information system to share information and best practices in a timely manner, promoting alternatives to DDT-derived antifouling paints, and supporting environmental education about alternatives to DDT-based antifouling paints.

September 28, 2006 is World Maritime Day.

More details of the project available online: http://gefonline.org/projectDetails.cfm?projID=2932

About the GEF

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an international financial mechanism with 176 member countries that addresses global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. GEF grants support projects in developing countries related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. GEF’s implementing agencies—the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank—share credit for GEF’s measurable on-the-ground achievements. Since its inception in 1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record of support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $6.2 billion in grants and leveraging $20 billion in co-financing for over 1,800 projects in 140 countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), GEF has also made more than 7,000 small grants, up to $50,000 each, directly to nongovernmental organizations and community organizations.

Media contacts:

GEF: Clare Fleming, +1.202.458.4679, cfleming@TheGEF.org; Sarwat Hussain, +1.202.473.5690, shussain@TheGEF.org

IMO: Lee Adamson, +44) (0)20 7587 3153, media@imo.org; Natasha Brown, +44(0)20 7587 3274, media@imo.org

UNDP: Niamh Collier-Smith, +1.212.906.6111, niamh.collier@undp.org