According to a study focusing on global forecasts of shipping traffic and biological invasions to 2050, Anthony Sardain, an invasion ecologist at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, forecasts that the risk of marine invasions will rise three- to 20-fold in the next 30 years. The study explains 90% of the variation in global shipping traffic and a twofold increase in shipping using basic socioeconomic indicators and a temporal validation set.
Sardain decided to conduct a survey on this matter, as he believes that shipping is expected to change on a global scale; Therefore, via the survey him and his colleagues aim to understand how and if this change will affect where marine species are being introduced.
The researchers developed a model to predict the future global maritime traffic, gathering data from more than 50 million voyages, conducted by more than 81,000 vessels worldwide, in the timeframe 2006-2014, while also analysing factors as the population sizes and gross domestic product of nations. These factors were combined with projections of climate change, which will open new shipping routes. Additionally, the also analysed ship-linked marine invasions models, as how invasive species attached to a ship’s hull or in ballast water might spread.
In addition, the scientists projected that the global maritime traffic might rise by 240%, up to 1,209% by 2050; This increase may hide many risks as marine invasions to surge in nations with large-growing economies.
On of the authors of the study, Brian Leung, commented
Unless appropriate action is taken, we could anticipate an exponential increase in such invasions, which conceivably could have unprecedented economic and ecological consequences.
In light of the challenges arising from global shipping traffic, Mr Sardain noted that there are measures taken to tackle this problem, referring to the IMO’s international ballast water management convention that entered into force in 2017 aims to reduce marine invasions by having ships discharge ballast water taken on near coasts in the middle of their voyages and replace it with ocean water.
Concluding, for more information on the study, you may click here.