1,500 Stranded Ships May Trigger Global Marine Invasion
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Scientists have warned that more than 1,500 commercial ships stranded for months in the Gulf due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could unleash a global wave of invasive marine species when they resume sailing, posing a major threat to biodiversity.
An international team of marine biologists has described the situation as a potential ‘bio-invasion super-spreader event’, saying no previous shipping disruption has left so many vessels stationary for such a long period.
The ships have remained idle since the Strait of Hormuz closed in late February, allowing their submerged hulls to become heavily covered with algae, barnacles, mussels and other marine organisms. Once shipping resumes, these species could be transported to ports around the world.
Researchers warned that invasive species can outcompete native marine life, spread diseases, damage fisheries, clog industrial infrastructure and permanently alter ecosystems. Organisms adapted to the Gulf's extreme heat and salinity are considered especially resilient, increasing the risk of successful invasions elsewhere.
Pic Credit: AFP| File
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