The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) is proud to announce the release of a new report detailing the potential of marine debris to act as a pathway for the introduction of invasive species.

There is mounting concern over the increase in debris in our ocean and the potential for that debris to assist in the spread of non-native species. While the pathways associated with global shipping draw the greatest amount of attention regarding marine invasives, the purpose of this paper is to consider the potential role that marine debris may play in introducing non-native species that may become invasive. This report reviews the scientific literature that exists on the subject and identifies areas where more research is needed.

Check out the new invasive species report, which joins NOAA's reports on entanglement, ingestion, ghost fishing, modeling, and habitat.

Photo courtesy of CSIRO Science Image - Source: Wikimedia Commons Image