Ships trapped in Gulf become 'bio-invasion super-spreaders'

The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, resulting from the US-Israel war on Iran, has led to more than 1,500 commercial vessels being stranded in the Gulf since February 28. This prolonged immobility is fostering a critical marine biodiversity threat, as ships' hulls become densely coated with various marine organisms.

Marine biologists describe this as a potential global "bio-invasion super-spreader event." Unlike typical short port stays, these vessels have remained stationary for months, allowing robust marine communities to establish. When shipping resumes, these organisms could be transported worldwide.

These hardy species, adapted to the Gulf's high heat and salinity, pose a significant risk to native ecosystems. They can outcompete local wildlife, introduce diseases, and cause irreversible damage to valuable marine habitats like coral reefs and seagrass meadows.

Experts urge governments and shipping companies to inspect and clean vessels before departure. Ports anticipating arrivals should enhance invasive species monitoring and develop rapid-response plans, drawing parallels to public health strategies for infectious disease containment.

The International Maritime Organization acknowledges biofouling as a key vector for invasive species and is developing a legally binding instrument to address this issue, recommending adherence to existing biofouling guidelines.