In 2005, a report entitled "Ocean Shipping in the Great Lakes: Transportation Cost Increases That Would Result from a Cessation of Ocean Vessels Shipping" was published. This research activity was funded by The Joyce Foundation and looked at transportation cost increases that would occur if, for whatever reason, ocean shipping ceased in the Great Lakes. The research concluded that shippers would incur additional costs of $55 million annually if this should occur. This is a relatively small amount compared to overall transportation costs associated with the movement of ocean vessel cargo into and out of the Great Lakes region. These cost advantages must be weighed against the costs associated with ocean vessel shipping, especially the cost of invasive species introduction and management. In fact, the research was originally prompted by a number of initiatives related to invasive species and their control through better methods of ballast management.