The floating marine debris (FMD) and the associated rafting communities are one of the major stressors to ecosystem services, global biodiversity and economy and human health. In this study, assemblages of encrusting organisms on different types of stranded FMD along the west coast of Qatar, Arabian/Persian Gulf (hereafter referred to as ‘Gulf’) were examined. The analysis showed 18 fouling species belonging to 5 phyla (Annelida, Anthropoda, Bryozoa, Mollusca and Porifera) on the FMD. The most abundant fouling species were the encrusting Amphibalanus amphitrite, polychaete Spirobranchus kraussii, Bryozoan species and Megabalanus coccopoma. More number of taxa were found on larger size FMD than on smaller FMD. Some of the barnacle rafting types were found to be non-indigenous species. The central and northwest parts of the Qatar had more FMD and fouled species than in other locations. Winds and the prevailing hydrodynamic conditions (waves and currents) played an important role in the transportation and distribution of FMD and associated organisms along the west coast of Qatar. The present study confirmed that huge amount of bio-fouled FMD items, causing great damage to biodiversity, drift in the surface layer of ocean and eventually strand onto the beaches. We propose a simple, but an effective management plan for FMD and associated organisms at regional scale to restore the biodiversity, sustainability and health of the marine ecosystem in the Gulf.

漂浮的海洋垃圾（FMD）和相关的漂流社区是生态系统服务，全球生物多样性以及经济和人类健康的主要压力源之一。在这项研究中，研究了阿拉伯/波斯湾卡塔尔西海岸（以下简称“海湾”）沿岸不同类型的FMD包壳生物的集合。分析显示，FMD上有属于5种门的18种污染物种（Annelida，Anthropoda，Bryozoa，软体动物和Porifera）。最丰富的污垢物种是在结壳纹藤壶，多毛旋鳃虫属毛虫，苔藓动物物种和Megabalanus coccopoma。在较大口径的FMD上发现的分类单元数量要比较小口径的FMD多。发现一些藤壶漂流类型是非土著物种。卡塔尔中部和西北部的口蹄疫和受污染物种比其他地区多。风和盛行的水动力条件（波浪和水流）在卡塔尔西海岸的口蹄疫及相关生物的运输和分布中起着重要作用。本研究证实，大量生物污染的口蹄疫物品对生物多样性造成了严重破坏，在海洋表层漂移并最终搁浅在海滩上。我们针对区域规模的口蹄疫和相关生物提出了一个简单而有效的管理计划，以恢复海湾地区海洋生态系统的生物多样性，可持续性和健康。