Scientists Warn 1,500 Stalled Hormuz Ships Could Spread Invasive Species Worldwide
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 25
Scientists Warn 1,500 Stalled Hormuz Ships Could Spread Invasive Species Worldwide
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 25
Summary
More than 1,500 ships idled in the Persian Gulf and hundreds in the Gulf of Oman could become an invasive-species superspreader event once traffic resumes, scientists said in a new Biological Invasions paper.
Prolonged stalling near the Strait of Hormuz lets hull biofouling build up despite anti-fouling paint, allowing algae, mussels, barnacles and microorganisms to attach, reproduce and later travel port to port.
The risk is heightened because Hormuz traffic has been disrupted by the Iran conflict and U.S. naval blockade, while the region’s warm, high-salinity waters favor hardy species more likely to survive long voyages.
Mario Tamburri, the study’s lead author, said prevention is critical because established marine invaders are extremely hard and costly to remove; he urged hull cleaning before departure and tighter port-entry rules.