Applying the Precautionary Principle in the Risk Management of Invasive Species via Ballast Water

In marine and coastal environments, commercial shipping ballast water is considered to be the most relevant transfer vector of invasions world wide. There are many uncertainties in the management of invasive species. Consideration of the uncertainties is crucial for the determination of the most appropriate management strategies to address this highly variable problem. The traditional risk management has many limitations by administrative complexness and important uncertainties. In order to make risk management more effective, this paper discuss that how to apply the precautionary principle in the risk management of invasive species.