Routes of the Expansion- Waterways
Although Brazil is a country of continental dimensions, we can see that the evolution of the expansion of L. fortunei acquires worrisome proportions.
On the one hand, the characteristics of this prolific species, able to acclimatize under physical and chemical conditions of water conditions, much better than D. polymorpha.
On the other hand, according to ANTAQ, the 9 Brazilian river or waterway networks (27,420 km navigable and 15,407 km potential) and its important fluvial traffic (2,933 vessels of all types and sizes) provide an unbeatable scenario for the expansion of the entire pest. Brazilian territory.
In the 42,827.5 km. of waterways in Brazil, 2,933 vessels of all types pass. In addition to transporting goods and passengers, thousands of L. fortunei adults also travel on these boats, fixed in their hulls.
In the image opposite, we can observe the situation of colonization, although we must accept that the progression is 5% annual growth.
In the image below we observe the adhesion of bivalves in the boats. A treatment with harmless (non-biocidal) fouling on the hulls of these boats could reduce the advance to other aquatic areas.
We currently use long term treatments (5 years), with ceramic inhibitors. These treatments are considered the most efficient on the market, not only prevent fouling but also protect these surfaces from other colonizations and produce a remarkable improvement in the speed of ship displacement.
The technology available from Ecowater Technologies enables an immediate control and action network to be established throughout the waterway network. The detection buoys designed by Ecowater allow us, in real time, to know the presence of L. fortunei specimens in submerged structures.
The ECOWATER INNOVA Observation and Control Centers are spaces of action that are activated through technological cooperation agreements with the actors involved in the problem. These centers are responsible for reviewing and operating mobile structures and fixed infrastructures (ports, pontoons, boats) with advanced technology that significantly reduces operating costs.
The benefits provided by COC have several aspects:
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They keep the structures fixed, free of bivalve colonies.
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Avoid incrustations on boats
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Reduce advances in invasion
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Provide up-to-date information on stock control
Almost 20 years of experience in bivalve pest control provide us with the information, means and method to control the phenomenon in infrastructures and submerged structures.
Through the Observation and Control Centers, we not only offer this information and experience, but also promote concrete and effective actions to improve the processes that lead to the effective control of invasive limnological molluscs.
• Actions designed to make applications fit for each case.
• Coordinate work plans using the effective and innocuous methods available.
• Unified database on the results of the experiments and their extrapolation
• Observation of the evolution of control processes as a whole.
The Observation and Control Center is an operational mechanism whose mission is to act directly on the causes and mitigate the effects of each of the presented problems and apply specific solutions to each of them.