Recent research that indicates that non-indigenous species are present in a significant number of docked ships along the Mediterranean coast.
A study by the Tel Aviv University found that out of 45 recreational, commercial and military craft in five Israeli shipyards along the Mediterranean coast, non-indigenous ascidians (NIAs) were present in every second vessel investigated.
According to Andrés Izquierdo-Muñoz from the University of Alicante, these organisms colonise all types of natural and artificial substrates and are often transported via ships’ hulls.
The Tel Aviv study, led by the university’s Dr. Noa Shenkar, found that ships play a dominant role in introducing and dispersing these organisms. They cling onto the ship and are transported through the Suez Canal, both increasing the drag of the ship and cresting an imbalance in the environment in which they are transported to.
The 45 vessels were cleaned in various shipyards. The researchers found that military vessels were more prone to ascidian invasion. Despite being cleaned every 6 months, the cleaning is not enough to remove these species says Dr. Shenkar, who believes that more thorough cleaning as occurs on commercial ships is needed.
According to the researchers, monitoring of vessels will not only help to indicate early signs of non-indigenous species transfer, but could also bring to light new species that were previously unknown. Academia and commercial shipping must work together in order to understand what is happening and form realistic recommendations says Dr. Shenkar.
Boud Van Rompay, Subsea Industries’ founder and chairman believes that this kind of research is important to understanding the impact of non-indigenous species transfer. He says that the industry now needs to consider taking a different approach to hull protection following the ban of TBT in antifouling systems, which has made them less effective in eliminating hull fouling.
Image courtesy of Shenkar and Loya.
Fathom-News
editor@fathom-mi.com
