Science Centres: Fisheries

The cost of controlling marine fouling in global shipping and marine aquaculture is estimated to be US$2.5 billion per year. Traditional antifouling products are facing mounting environmental concerns and regulation due to their environmental persistence and toxicity, with some widely used chemicals already banned or set to be phased out.

There’s a global need for effective, but environmentally friendly, antifouling formulations. In the hunt for such products, attention has turned to nature, since many immobile marine organisms, like sponges and seaweeds, seem to secrete their own antifoulants.

NIWA has started a four-year research programme to develop antifouling polymers incorporating natural compounds found in New Zealand marine sponges and macroalgae. The research is funded by the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology.

We are identifying and selecting suitable bioactive antifoulants, and then Forest Research will lead work to formulate plastics which retain the natural antifouling properties and could potentially be produced on an industrial scale.

Initially we hope to develop such plastics for use in two areas – antifouling coatings for marine vessels (with Altex Coatings Ltd), and antifouling ropes and plastic products, such as nets, cages, and buoys, for use in aquaculture (with Quality Equipment Holdings Ltd).