Rising economy vs. dwindling ecology: Critique of Indian legal regime on shipping-based marine bio-invasions amid Vizhinjam international seaport opening

Marine biological invasions represent a significant threat to biodiversity, with profound social, economic, and ecological consequences. A major proportion of global marine bioinvasions occurs through the pathway of shipping. The discharge of ship ballast water infested with invasive alien species from different parts of the world and the biofouling of ships by invasive mollusks like snails and mussels are the prominent mechanisms through which the most problematic marine invasives were introduced into the native marine ecosystems of the country. With the opening of Vizhinjam port, the State of Kerala and the entire country are celebrating a major milestone in advancing national maritime trade and commerce. The port is now witnessing marine traffic at unprecedented rates. Mother ships from around the globe are anchoring in the coastal waters of Kerala. Aside from the economic breakthrough the country is about to achieve, the opening of the Vizhinjam port has brought along with it the risk of alien species introductions into native marine habitats. In this regard, the paper highlights the ecological risk of marine biological invasions associated with the opening of Vizhinjam port, examines the national legal measures currently in place to withstand this risk, and suggests the need for future developments.