Idle ships in Strait of Hormuz risk global marine invasion, study warns
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A study led by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science warns that over 1,500 commercial vessels stranded in the Persian/Arabian Gulf could trigger a massive marine invasive species event. The research, published in Biological Invasions, highlights that prolonged anchoring allows hulls to accumulate organisms like algae and barnacles, which may spread globally when ships resume routes.
The Scale of the Threat
The study, 'Closure of the Strait of Hormuz May Trigger a Bioinvasion Super-Spreader Event,' describes the unprecedented layup of more than 1,500 ships as creating conditions for a potential global marine bioinvasion. Carolyn Tepolt, a biologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, noted that marine invasive species have profound ecological and economic impacts and are extremely difficult to eradicate once established. The disruption has quietly created ideal conditions to spread warm-water species to new ports.
Biofouling and Spread
Prolonged periods at anchor allow ship hulls to accumulate dense communities of marine organisms, including algae, barnacles, mussels, and other invertebrates. These organisms can be transported around the world when vessels resume normal trade routes. Modern shipping has long been recognized as a primary pathway for marine invasive species, but the scale and duration of this layup are unlike anything previously documented.
Calls for Action
The authors call on ship operators, port authorities, regulators, and environmental managers to strengthen ship biofouling management, expand monitoring at high-risk ports, improve forecasting of vessel movements, and coordinate rapid international response efforts. The study involved 24 marine scientists from institutions including UMCES and WHOI.
What's Next
The international community is expected to discuss biofouling management protocols at the next IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting. It remains unclear whether port authorities will implement enhanced monitoring before vessels resume routes.
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Idle ships in Strait of Hormuz risk global marine invasion, study warns
