Leaders of the Chesapeake Bay Program have developed a policy that addresses both intentioanl and unintentional introductions of acquatic nonindigenous species, and lays out a framework of cooperative management approaches and public outreach efforts for both.

Recommendations are as follows:

1) The General Assemblies of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania enact resolutions calling for increased involvement in ballast water management.

2) Encourage federal support for the development of ballast water management technologies and practices through financial support and other incentives.

3) Using conventional routes of contact, launch an aggressive. multi-lingual education campaign to raise awareness among the crews and agents of foeign and U.S. flagged ships.

4) Encourage both governmental and non-governmental organizations to fully incorporate concerns of biological introductions into their new respective programs.

5) Cooperative and coordinate with authorities of other mid-Atlantic estuaries, and national and international interests, to ensure compatible and comparable management programs.

6) Encourage the Chesapeake Executive Council to adopt these recommendations as a sequel to the adopted policies of 1992. In addition, conduct an annual review to ensure that progress is being made to minimize the risk of ballast mediated exotic species introduction.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/nep/coastlines