India, Sept. 24 -- The war in West Asia and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have left many commercial vessels stranded or severely delayed in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Although many vessels resumed their journeys whenever transit became possible, some remained in the region for prolonged periods. This unusual situation has created a largely overlooked environmental concern: Biofouling on ships could become a pathway for the spread of marine invasive species across the world (Tamburri et al., 2026).

When a ship remains stationary for a long period, its submerged surfaces provide an excellent opportunity for marine organisms to settle and grow. Algae, micro-organisms, barnacles, mussels and many other marin...