Biodiversity and Biosecurity Monitoring

Biodiversity and biosecurity monitoring tracks ecosystem health and species presence, including native, threatened, and invasive species, to inform protection, management, and rapid response actions. This may include, among others, baseline surveys of terrestrial and marine habitats before development, ongoing monitoring of native flora and fauna populations, targeted programs for threatened or endangered species, early detection surveillance for invasive pests and diseases, water quality and habitat condition monitoring, marine mammal observation protocols and exclusion zones, use of technologies such as cameras, acoustic sensors, drones, or environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, reporting systems for port staff, fishers, and communities to flag unusual species, and collaboration with research institutions and environmental agencies.

For DMC ports, monitoring can protect native biodiversity and ecosystem function, support recovery of threatened and endangered species, enable rapid detection and management of invasive species, safeguard fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal livelihoods, improve climate resilience of coastal ecosystems, reduce long term environmental and economic risks, strengthen compliance with environmental and biosecurity obligations, and build evidence for sustainable development decisions.

Biodiversity and biosecurity monitoring in ports provides the evidence base for effective environmental management. Monitoring programs typically begin with baseline surveys during project planning and environmental impact assessment, establishing reference conditions against which future change can be measured. Ongoing monitoring during operations tracks trends, identifies emerging issues, and informs adaptive management.

Marine biodiversity monitoring approaches include, among others, visual surveys (including diver transects for corals and invertebrates), underwater video and photography, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to detect species presence from water samples, acoustic monitoring for marine mammals and fish, and water quality monitoring as proxies for ecosystem condition. Terrestrial monitoring applies analogous approaches adapted to birds, mammals, plants, and invertebrates in port associated landscapes.

Invasive species early detection monitoring targets known high risk pathways and locations, including, among others, vessel interaction points (berths, anchorages), ballast water discharge and biofouling cleaning areas, cargo storage and wash down facilities, and freshwater and wastewater outlets. Monitoring methods include regular visual surveys, eDNA surveillance, and engagement with port workers and fishers who may observe unusual species. Rapid response protocols link detection to containment and management actions.

Marine mammal monitoring is particularly important for ports operating in areas with marine mammal populations (such as dugongs in DMCs, humpback whales in parts of the Indian Ocean). Observation protocols, exclusion zones during pile driving or dredging, and acoustic monitoring support protection. Underwater noise from port operations affects marine mammals and is subject to increasing regulatory attention, with research documenting impacts.

Technology applications in biodiversity monitoring have expanded significantly, with cameras, drones, acoustic recorders, and eDNA analysis making monitoring more efficient, less invasive, and more comprehensive. Port of Antwerp-Bruges runs its second species protection program, covering about 90 protected animal and plant species that live in the port (Port of Antwerp-Bruges, n.d.). Alignment with the TNFD framework supports corporate reporting on nature related dependencies and impacts (TNFD, 2023).