NBIC Research & Development

The data compiled by the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse comes primarily from commercial vessels and is analyzed to elucidate the activities of shipping traffic in the United States. In particular, NBIC tracks the arrival patterns of ships and quantifies their ballast water activities to better understand the magnitude and characteristics of this important pathway of biological invasion. Ultimately, NBIC data will be combined with on-the-ground biological survey data that track rates of marine invasions to determine the effectiveness of ballast water management practices for reducing coastal invasion over the long term. In addition to these efforts, the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse collects and analyzes historical shipping data to determine how shipping, and thus the potential for ship-mediated invasions, has changed over time in specific geographic regions.