Stalled Ships Near Strait of Hormuz Risk Global Invasive Species Spread
Possible invasive species superspreader event near Strait of Hormuz
Ongoing conflict near the Strait of Hormuz has left over 1,500 ships idle, creating a perfect storm for invasive species. As vessels sit in warm, nutrient-rich waters, marine organisms like barnacles and algae rapidly colonize their hulls. Once these ships resume global travel, they risk transporting these hardy species to new ecosystems, potentially causing irreversible ecological damage and billions in economic losses.
If you can survive high temperatures, high salinities, you can probably survive long ship voyages.
- krupan
This article seems designed to alarm more than to inform. I'm left with so many questions after reading it.
How long does a ship have to sit still before organisms attach to it?
How does this anti-attach coating get applied and can it be reapplied?
Can the ships be cleaned after sitting and accumulating sea life?
It mentioned COVID having caused ships to sit still, how much damage has already been done because of that?
Something that can survive high salinity and warm water is claimed to be able to survive anywhere, but is that really true? Couldn't cold water kill something that's adapted to warm water?
Etc., etc.
- johnea
International shipping is the #1 spreader of marine invasive species.
1/2 of all shipping, is shipping oil 8-/
Spreading invasive species is just one more way that oil is destroying our natural environment.
- behnamoh
If "other" human lives are cheap enough to the general public in democracies to allow wars to happen, then how can you expect them to care for "potential" superspreader events that don't even directly impact human lives?