Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz region may be biosecurity risks when they leave. What can we do?

More than fifteen hundred commercial vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf since February pose an overlooked environmental risk: their hulls have accumulated marine biofouling—algae and small organisms that thrive in tropical waters. When these ships depart, The Conversation reports, they could become a biosecurity super-spreader, transporting invasive species to ports worldwide and damaging native ecosystems and fisheries. To mitigate the threat, scientists recommend pre-departure inspections and in-water hull cleaning in the region, along with coordinated screening at destination ports.

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