11 
interreg 
Baltic Sea Region 
JROPEAN 
Z6I0MAL 
*VELOPMENT 
N AD. 
rı COMPLETE PLUS 
for a risk assessment in consideration as basis for a regional harmonization, the outcome of the 
revision of the Guidelines should be taken as basis for, inter alia,the biofouling level. 
Table 3: Level of Fouling (LOF) (based on Floerl et al. (2005)). 
LOF 
J 
2 
3 
4 
5 
| Owwr 
medium 
high 
Description 
No visible fouling. Hull entirely clean, no biofilm on 
the previously submerged parts of the hull. 
Slime fouling only. Previously submerged hull areas 
partially or entirely covered in biofilm, but absence of 
any macrofouling. 
Light fouling. Hull covered in biofilm and 1—2 very 
small patches of macrofouling (only few taxa 
present). 
Considerable fouling. Presence of biofilm, and 
macrofouling still patchy but clearly visible and 
comprised of either one single or several different 
taxa. 
Extensive fouling. Presence of biofilm and abundant 
Fouling assemblages consisting of more than one 
taxon. 
Very heavy fouling. Diverse assemblages covering 
most of the hull surfaces. 
Visual estimate of 
fouling cover 
Nil 
Nil 
1—5 % of surfaces 
that have been 
submerged 
6—15 % of surfaces 
that have been 
submerged 
' 16-40 % of surfaces 
that have been 
submerged 
41-100 % of 
surfaces that have 
been submerged 
1.2 Trading area 
Biofouling originating from distant locations presents a potential threat of spreading IAS and 
therefore poses a biosecurity risk. In comparison, the biosecurity risk coming along from biofouling 
acquired in the same location with the same species composition is relatively low (Department of 
the Environment and MPI 2015). 
Currently, there is no tool in order to define “same location” for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) with 
regard to biofouling species. 
The biosecurity risk of trading areas within the Baltic Sea (low, medium, high) could be assessed 
based on the knowledge of the IAS present in the areas/ports of the Baltic Sea, according to the 
HELCOM/OSPAR _ Joint _Harmonized Procedure (HELCOM/OSPAR 2020), for granting 
exemptions from ballast water management. When the same NIS are present in the ship’s trading