The closure of the strait of Hormuz has created conditions for an extreme global biodiversity threat, with scientists warning that thousands of stranded ships could spread invasive marine species across the world’s oceans once they begin sailing again. But many vessels trapped in the Gulf have remained stationary for months, allowing dense marine communities to establish themselves. Invasive species can also devastate fisheries, clog the cooling systems of power plants and cost billions of dollars a year to manage, he added. A spokesperson from the International Maritime Organization said: “Biofouling can be a key vector for transfer of invasive aquatic species. “Some of those are likely to be impacted and perhaps damaged beyond repair,” he said, calling it a “super-spreader version” of the way ships already transported invasive species around the world.