30,000 Ship Arrivals Raised Alaska's Invasive Species Risk by 50% Over a Decade

A new study found that nearly 30,000 commercial vessel arrivals in Alaska between 2012 and 2022 introduced approximately 430 square kilometres of submerged hull surface into its waters. These underwater surfaces can transport non-native marine organisms through a process called biofouling. Passenger ships were the largest contributor, accounting for more than half of the total submerged area. The research warns that rising water temperatures and growing Arctic shipping activity could further increase the threat of invasive species establishing themselves in Alaskan waters.