Biofouling
Why it Matters?
Biofouling, often overlooked in global trade, plays a key role in spreading invasive alien species through ships' ballast water and hull surfaces, increasing ecological risks across borders.
What You Should Know?
Biofouling refers to the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, animals, and algae on wet surfaces like ship hulls and ballast tanks.
Ballast water discharge is a major pathway for the spread of invasive aquatic species across international waters.
During ballast water exchange, exotic species can be inadvertently transported from one region to another.
Example: The Asian paddle crab, originally from the Northwest Pacific and East Asian waters, made its way to New Zealand, bringing along the white-spot syndrome virus.
It occurs in two stages:
Microfouling (biofilm formation) and
Macrofouling (attachment of larger organisms like barnacles or seaweed).
Factors influencing biofouling include temperature, geographical location, species diversity, and solar radiation.
Pollution can either suppress biofouling by blocking sunlight or accelerate it by encouraging non-native species.
Biofouling impacts marine transport, aquaculture, and underwater infrastructure, increasing maintenance and fuel costs.
It poses a biosecurity risk by facilitating the spread of invasive alien species via ships’ hulls and ballast water.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Guidelines on Biofouling, originally adopted in 2011 as Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) Resolution 207(62) and revised in 2023 as MEPC Resolution 378(80), aim to provide a globally consistent framework for managing hull biofouling to minimize the transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species (IAS).