OCE-B.10.C - IAS Prevention and Management Process Disclosure
Does the company disclose its processes to prevent the introduction of IAS or to manage IAS introduced due to its operations?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
IAS include animals, plants and other organisms that humans accidentally or deliberately
introduce to areas outside their natural geographic range. IAS can have detrimental impacts on local
biodiversity. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES) Global Assessment Report (2019) has identified IAS as one of the five most significant direct
drivers of biodiversity loss. The Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD's) Post-2020 Global
Biodiversity Framework requires reducing the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive
species by at least 50%.
Invasive species can enter marine ecosystems through various pathways, such as ballast water,
biofouling, discharged wastewater, escaped fish, imported bait and navigational canals. Lacking
natural predators in their new environments, invasive species often spread and become abundant.
Their ecological consequences can permeate food chains as they carry diseases, outcompete or prey
on native species and alter food webs. These impacts influence ecosystem functioning and can also
have socioeconomic and health implications. Managing invasive species is, therefore, vital for
preserving biodiversity and human welfare (SDG 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Have a documented process or policy for preventing the introduction of IAS.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic.
This point evaluates whether the company has a system in place to prevent IAS introduction.
Example of compliance: The company's sustainability report describes a comprehensive prevention process, including measures such as staff training, biosecurity protocols, and habitat restoration efforts.
Shipping:
Eliminate bilge and/or ballast water dumping, or for processing organisations, and engage suppliers to eliminate bilge and/or ballast water dumping from their practices (TFND).
The company provides proof that ballast waters and sediments, and biofouling are treated OR has a ballast water management system (BWMS), and/or a Biofouling Management Plan (BFMP). Under the IMO Biofouling Guidelines, every ship should have a ship-specific BFMP including details on ship design, selection of antifouling systems, hull cleaning, and maintenance, among other issues.
Aquaculture: The company provided proof of species escape prevention.
Ports and Offshore Wind: the company provides proof of regular monitoring of invasive species in ports. And offshore wind platforms
Shipping& Ports: Ensure the species exported or imported are:
Not listed as invasive on the Global Invasive Species Database; and
Not listed as invasive in the import jurisdiction (TNFD -Draft sector guidance TNFD)
introduce to areas outside their natural geographic range. IAS can have detrimental impacts on local
biodiversity. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES) Global Assessment Report (2019) has identified IAS as one of the five most significant direct
drivers of biodiversity loss. The Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD's) Post-2020 Global
Biodiversity Framework requires reducing the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive
species by at least 50%.
Invasive species can enter marine ecosystems through various pathways, such as ballast water,
biofouling, discharged wastewater, escaped fish, imported bait and navigational canals. Lacking
natural predators in their new environments, invasive species often spread and become abundant.
Their ecological consequences can permeate food chains as they carry diseases, outcompete or prey
on native species and alter food webs. These impacts influence ecosystem functioning and can also
have socioeconomic and health implications. Managing invasive species is, therefore, vital for
preserving biodiversity and human welfare (SDG 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Have a documented process or policy for preventing the introduction of IAS.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic.
This point evaluates whether the company has a system in place to prevent IAS introduction.
Example of compliance: The company's sustainability report describes a comprehensive prevention process, including measures such as staff training, biosecurity protocols, and habitat restoration efforts.
Shipping:
Eliminate bilge and/or ballast water dumping, or for processing organisations, and engage suppliers to eliminate bilge and/or ballast water dumping from their practices (TFND).
The company provides proof that ballast waters and sediments, and biofouling are treated OR has a ballast water management system (BWMS), and/or a Biofouling Management Plan (BFMP). Under the IMO Biofouling Guidelines, every ship should have a ship-specific BFMP including details on ship design, selection of antifouling systems, hull cleaning, and maintenance, among other issues.
Aquaculture: The company provided proof of species escape prevention.
Ports and Offshore Wind: the company provides proof of regular monitoring of invasive species in ports. And offshore wind platforms
Shipping& Ports: Ensure the species exported or imported are:
Not listed as invasive on the Global Invasive Species Database; and
Not listed as invasive in the import jurisdiction (TNFD -Draft sector guidance TNFD)
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Not Applicable
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report