Great Lakes Water Protection Act of 2003

This bill aims to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species by strictly limiting the amount of ballast water that ships can carry when entering the region. Under this proposal, any vessel with ballast tanks would be prohibited from entering the Great Lakes if those tanks are more than five percent full. To ensure compliance, ship captains would be required to officially certify that they have met this standard before passing through the first lock of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

For citizens, the practical impact of this legislation is the preservation of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the local economies that depend on it. By reducing the volume of ballast water brought in from foreign ports, the bill seeks to prevent the introduction of non-native plants and animals that can disrupt local fisheries, damage underwater infrastructure, and degrade water quality.