Considered approach to protecting marine biodiversity offers competitive advantage
A new Lloyd’s Register publication aims to support the shipping industry in understanding and managing its impact on the marine environment.
Proactive measures supporting marine biodiversity create operational efficiencies and attract commercial incentives, according to a new Lloyd’s Register (LR) report, launched today (11 June) at the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France.
The Shipping Biodiversity Report offers practical, science-based guidance and potential actions for shipowners, operators, regulators and policymakers seeking to protect marine biodiversity while maintaining efficient operations.
The report connects environmental impact with financial and reputational exposure. Ships with poor noise or discharge profiles may not be eligible for port incentive programmes, face reduced charter appeal, or operating restrictions in ecologically sensitive zones.
Conversely, proactive measures, such as investing in greener technologies or operational practices such as reducing speed in known habitats, can deliver sustainable practices, operational efficiencies and attract commercial incentives.
It recommends a number of practical strategies and actionable pathways for shipowners and operators, such as early consideration of biodiversity impacts during vessel design, technology and digital adoption, and holistic thinking around ship discharges and future fuels.
The report provides a tool to understand the cause-and-effect relationship between shipping activities and environmental pressures. These include the introduction of non-indigenous and potentially invasive species, often via ballast water and biofouling, which can have negative impacts on native populations and food chains, sometimes leading to extinction or impacting vital industries such as fisheries and aquaculture.
Harmful and toxic discharges, ranging from accidental spills to the cumulative impact of routine operational discharges, are other activities causing pressure. These introduce chemicals, nutrients causing eutrophication and microplastics that alter ocean chemistry and contribute to ocean acidification.
Physical impacts, including ship strikes that pose lethal threats to marine animals, anchoring activities that can destroy sensitive seafloor habitats such as coral reefs, and vessel-generated waves and turbulence, also contribute to ecosystem degradation. Additionally, underwater radiated noise from vessels is now recognised as the primary contributor to chronic ocean noise, altering the behaviour and distribution of marine mammals and fish.
Sahan Abeysekara, LR’s Lead, Environment Policy and Strategy, said: “The oceans that sustain our industry face mounting pressures from human activities. As our understanding of the ocean broadens, more international and regional regulatory regimes pose challenges to the industry where proactive engagement and collaboration will be needed.
“Effective management of marine ecosystems is crucial not only for the health of the oceans, but also for the long-term sustainability and just transition of the shipping industry itself. Synergy with decarbonisation is a win-win.”
The Shipping Biodiversity Report is the first volume in a planned series that will expand to address technological solutions, operational practices, and collaborative approaches to environmental management. The full publication is available to download from LR’s Maritime Biodiversity Research Programme
About Lloyd’s Register:
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.
Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.
Our digital solutions are relied upon by more than 30,000 vessels, following the acquisition of OneOcean in 2022 and Ocean Technologies Group in 2024.
In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.
Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education. www.lr.org
