A global task force made up of partner countries and organizations of the GloFouling Partnerships Project is laying the groundwork for a follow-up initiative to address biofouling, which continues to be a major threat to ocean health.
This comes as IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), meeting 7 to 11 April, agreed to develop a new legally binding framework on biofouling management.
Since 2019, the GloFouling Partnerships Project, implemented jointly by IMO, UNDP and GEF, has supported developing countries in tackling the spread of invasive aquatic species via ships' hulls.
With the project wrapping up in May 2025, stakeholders are exploring a successor initiative that will focus on long-term funding, stronger regional collaboration, private-sector engagement, and alignment with the IMO-Norad TEST Biofouling Project.
"With IMO moving towards a mandatory framework on biofouling management, developing countries need stronger technical support to keep pace," said GloFouling Project Manager Lilia Khodjet El Khil. "A follow-up initiative is essential to help them prepare for the development and implementation of future rules, strengthen regional cooperation, and ensure the risk of invasive species is mitigated."
Potentially, the next phase of the project would continue to support implementation of the 2023 IMO Biofouling Guidelines (as well as any future mandatory regulations) and integrate biofouling policy more deeply at both national and global levels.
A meeting of the GloFouling Partnerships Project's Global Project Task Force (GPTF-3) in Bali (10-12 March) brought together representatives from 24 countries, eight regional bodies, and strategic partners such as the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) and Global Industry Alliance (GIA). The event highlighted the main achievements of the GloFouling Project (2019-2025) and outlined a sustainability roadmap to ensure long-term impact.
Spotlight on women in biosafety
The Bali event was followed by the Asia-Pacific Women in Maritime Biofouling Management Workshop (13 March), which launched a mentorship programme to boost women's leadership in the sector, in line with IMO and Maritime SheEO initiatives.
Eight mentors and six mentees from government, academia and industry committed to advancing gender equality in a traditionally male-dominated field, through skills-building, networking and other support.
