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The Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed and vulnerable environment, deserves special attention regarding the risk of introducing Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens via ships' ballast water as new species findings occur at an alarming rate. This species introduction vector was addressed with the 2004 International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, which entered into force in 2017. The efficient implementation of this convention calls for Adriatic States' cooperation on environmental specifics that have not been dealt with neither by national nor by international measures yet. Based on legal and institutional data gathered, and considering the regional maritime traffic and environmental specifics, this paper reveals that the integration of current environmental law commitments as well as a better dialogue between public institutions from shipping and environmental sectors may foster the implementation of ballast water management obligations through appropriate Adriatic States' cooperation. • Adriatic Sea specifics call for regional ballast water management • Environmental legislation facilitates the ballast water management convention implementation • The integration between environmental and shipping public institutions work is crucial for future States regional cooperation • Regional States' cooperation mechanisms in place are suitable for future legal developments in the Adriatic> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]