We who live on a major shipping lane are constantly grappling with this threat. The Coast Guard is on watch for invasives, but from what I’ve seen, very little money is spent on this project.
Scientists have developed the first global model that analyses the routes taken by marine invasive species. The researchers examined the movements of cargo ships around the world to identify the hot spots where these aquatic aliens might thrive. Marine species are taken in with ballast water on freighters and wreak havoc in new locations, driving natives to extinction. The research is published in the Journal Ecology Letters. Matt McGrath reports.