Successful abatement and management of the threats
due to marine invasive species is only possible if handled
at a global and regional level. Action at the national
level can temporarily reduce the inoculation frequency
of alien marine species but,as more alien species become
established in the neighbouring region and in the ports
of trading partners,the inoculation rate has to increase,
especially while the options for treatment of ballast
water (and hull fouling on any except the smallest
international vessels) remain marginally effective or
prohibitively expensive.