Mario Tamburri warns that over 1,500 idle ships in the Persian Gulf could trigger a global marine bioinvasion super-spreader event.

Mario Tamburri, a marine ecologist at the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science, warns that the current stagnation of commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf may lead to a global ecological crisis. Due to ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, more than 1,500 ships remain idle in the Persian Gulf, with hundreds more anchored in the Gulf of Oman. As these vessels remain stationary, they accumulate significant "biofouling"—a buildup of algae, barnacles, mussels, and other invertebrates on their hulls. Tamburri notes that these hardy organisms, adapted to high salinity and warm temperatures, are likely to survive long voyages and establish themselves in new ecosystems. Once invasive species take hold in a foreign environment, they are nearly impossible to eradicate and can cause millions of dollars in damage to fisheries and aquaculture. To mitigate this biosecurity threat, researchers recommend that ships clean their hulls before departing to prevent these organisms from spreading to new ports.

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