Commercial Vessel Ballast Water Management (2023-2024): Report to Congress January 29, 2026

Abstract

This report provides analyses of (1) the patterns of ballast water delivery and management; (2) the Coast Guard’s compliance and enforcement actions regarding ballast water management regulations; and (3) patterns of biological invasions by marine and estuarine aquatic nuisance species. It covers the two-year period from January 2023 through December 2024 to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Coast Guard’s statutorily mandated ballast water management regulatory program and validates that enforcement efforts continue to increase ballast water management and reduce the risk of introducing aquatic nuisance species into U.S. waters.