The USNPS Ranger III prepares to dock at Rock Harbor at Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. The National Park Service ship has a ballast treatment system that uses filtration and UV light to prevent the spread of invasive species. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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The Journal Sentinel's four-part series on invasive species in the Great Lakes misinterpreted and oversimplified the facts ("A Watershed Moment: Great Lakes at a Crossroads," July 27-30).

The Great Lakes shipping industry has acknowledged the role of ballast water in facilitating the movement of non-native species. The industry is committed to addressing this problem and minimizing the risk of future introductions and, in fact, has pioneered research into management and treatment of ballast water.

For example, in 2006 vessel operators worked cooperatively with the U.S. and Canadian governments to establish new saltwater flushing requirements for oceangoing ships entering the St. Lawrence Seaway. saltwater flushing of ballast tanks is currently deemed to be the most practical means of countering the introduction of new species into our waters. We note that since 2006, not a single new non-native species has been detected in the Great Lakes. As the Journal Sentinel points out, prior to 2006 new species were being discovered annually. This is a profound and positive change benefiting the environment.

Additional protections are forthcoming. Regulations unveiled by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2012 will require oceangoing vessels to install ballast water treatment systems to filter and clean ballast water before discharge. In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued similar rules. "Laker" vessels that never leave the system will continue to employ the currently required best management practices. These new rules will do much to reduce risk and protect the Great Lakes.

In 2006, Great Lakes ports helped provide the seed money necessary to launch the Great Ships Initiative (GSI), the world's only fresh water ballast treatment technology test center. Located in Superior, GSI is a partnership between the shipping industry, the Northeast Midwest Institute, environmental organizations and state and federal agencies.

GSI is staffed by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and University of Minnesota-Duluth. These dedicated scientists evaluate ballast cleaning equipment to ensure that it will work once installed aboard ships. This testing benefits both the ship owner and the environment. GSI is an example of Great Lakes stakeholders working in partnership to find a win-win solution.

The St. Lawrence Seaway contributes significantly to the economic viability of the Great Lakes region. Commerce through the waterway supports more than 86,000 U.S. and Canadian jobs, generates $12.3 billion in business revenue and contributes $1.7 billion in local, state/provincial and federal taxes every year. Shipping is the safest mode of transportation with superior fuel efficiency and the lowest greenhouse gas emissions.

The importance of Great Lakes shipping was highlighted last summer when Great Lakes governors and premiers announced their new maritime initiative. This program will focus on enhancing infrastructure, developing domestic and overseas markets and coordinating interstate freight movements. These leaders do not want to shut down shipping. To the contrary, they want to find ways to enhance it. The governors understand the critical role maritime commerce plays in the region's economic development and quality of life.

The Journal Sentinel suggests that the only way to protect the environment is to shut down commerce — threatening jobs and economic activity. This is a false choice. We can have a clean environment, a healthy ecosystem and robust economic activity. Working together, we can fix this.

Steven A. Fisher is executive director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association.