Control of Biofouling In Marine Environment – Past, Present And Future

Biofouling is a worldwide phenomenon plaguing mariners and accounting for economic burden on shipping, aquaculture and various other maritime industries. The fouling organisms cause extensive damage to commercially important marine structures causing increased drag of marine surface and submarine vessels incurring increased fuel penalties. . Antifouling is the phenomenon of preventing biofouling. Conventionally the principal protective method against fouling has been the use of antifouling paints. Environmental concerns of high toxicity against nonspecific targets including marine flora and fauna have resulted in imposition of worldwide ban on the use of most chemical antifouling formulation including TBT in 2006. Currently, other available approaches are far from ideal and consequently they do not provide a complete or long term answer to this expensive problem. Consequently exploration for alternatives coating has been intensified to bridge the gap. Great deal of attention is being currently focused on identification of nontoxic, environmentally friendly, Natural Product Antifouling agents (NPA).