Introduction through Transportation

During the 20th century transportation has expanded rapidly. Shorter port turn-around times and faster methods of travel have led to an increase in the risk of unintended introductions because exotic species can survive the journey.  By airplane, it now takes less than a day to transport organisms almost anywhere in the world.

Recreational boaters can transport exotic species between aquatic habitats in bait buckets or live wells, often without realizing it. Aquatic plants, in particular, are easily transported when plant fragments get tangled on boat propellers, trailers, and fishing gear of recreational boats. The attachment of species to the outside of ships, including the hulls of sea or floatplanes, also provides a mechanism for transfer of species. Studies suggest that prior to the introduction and widespread use of anti-fouling paints approximately one-third of the invasive species introduced into Australia came from fouled hulls of overseas trade ships. With the introduction of effective anti-fouling paints, there has been a reduction of fouled hulls, considerably reducing the risk of invasive organism introductions. Since 1972, the use of anti-fouling coatings containing tributylin (TBT) has significantly decreased the risk of introductions by hitchhiking organisms.