Nearly 30,000 ship arrivals increased Alaska’s invasive species risk by 50%

 Researchers found that nearly 30,000 commercial vessel arrivals brought 430 sq km of submerged surface area to Alaska between 2012 and 2022. The study says this surface can carry marine organisms through biofouling. Passenger vessels accounted for more than half of the total area, while warming waters and increased Arctic shipping could raise the risk of non-indigenous species reaching Alaska. Researchers found that nearly 30,000 commercial vessel arrivals brought 430 sq km of submerged surface area to Alaska between 2012 and 2022. The study says this surface can carry marine organisms through biofouling. Passenger vessels accounted for more than half of the total area, while warming waters and increased Arctic shipping could raise the risk of non-indigenous species reaching Alaska.