ECU researcher warns Strait of Hormuz backlog may spread invasive species worldwide

ECU researcher warns Strait of Hormuz backlog may spread invasive species worldwide

GREENVILLE, N.C. (07/27/2026) - New research by an international coalition of 24 marine scientists, including East Carolina University associate professor of biology Dr. April Blakeslee, cautions that the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which began on Feb. 28, has set the stage for an unprecedented ecological crisis. The group is advocating for early action and providing solutions to prevent what they call a bioinvasion super-spreader event, to prevent harm to ports, shipping industries, coastal ecosystems and the economy worldwide.

The researchers said that as more than 1,500 stranded vessels sit idle in the Persian/Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, their hulls are rapidly being colonized by marine bacteria, algae, seaweed and barnacles. As these heavily biofouled ships re-enter the global trade network, they will carry invasive species to ports throughout the world, threatening their ecosystems and economies.

Blakeslee, whose research expertise is in the field of biological invasions, said that invasive marine species can damage fisheries, disrupt native ecosystems, increase infrastructure maintenance costs and create long-term economic impacts for coastal communities around the world.

The research is discussed in a new paper, "Closure of the Strait of Hormuz May Trigger a Bioinvasion Super-Spreader Event," recently published in the journal Biological Invasions.

"The unprecedented scale and duration of this spring and summer mass lay-up of large commercial ships has created ideal conditions for a marine invasive species 'super-spreader' event," said Dr. Mario Tamburri, a University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science professor and the study's lead author.

"Our goal is to raise awareness of this significant biosecurity risk and provide practical recommendations to help reduce non-native species introductions as these idle ships resume their global operations," he said.

The International Maritime Organization advises that ships idling for more than 30 days require immediate intervention to manage biofouling before sailing - yet these ships have been stranded for nearly five months during the peak marine organism growth and reproduction season.

According to the authors, in-water cleaning of the ships to remove biofouling before departure could be highly effective in mitigating their invasion risks. However, given competing priorities and operational constraints, few ships will have the opportunity to safely and effectively remove biofouling before their next port of call.

The researchers urge ship operators, port authorities and environmental managers to prepare now for the backlog of ship biofouling management requirements and to implement appropriate actions to decrease the "extraordinary biosecurity threat."

Actions may include:

• Estimating vessel biofouling before departure.
• Forecasting vessel routes and first ports of call.
• Implementing early detection and rapid response at high-risk ports.
• Establishing rapid alert and knowledge-dissemination networks.

Contact: Steven Grandy, [email protected]; 252-328-6481

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