Marine Biofouling: What Can We Do About it?

Over the coming months, a number of free-to-attend workshops with industry experts will address the issue of marine biofouling, why it is such a hot topic, and what we can do about it. The workshops will be held at a number of upcoming boat shows including Southampton International Boat Show, Cannes Yachting Festival, Monaco Yacht Show and METSTRADE. 

Biofouling is the build up of aquatic organisms such as microorganisms, plants and animals on structures and surfaces exposed to the aquatic environment. Once these species are established in a new habitat, they are often impossible to eradicate, and can threaten fresh water and marine environments, human, animal and plant life, as well as economic and cultural activities.

The workshops will address how and why biofouling is so damaging for the marine environment, why it is so costly for the owners and operators of leisure craft, and the range of new and safe solutions that can be employed to combat this threat.  

The first workshop in the series will be held at this week's Southampton International Boat Show (SIBS), with details as follows:

Topic: Clean hulls - essential for sustainable boating and marine diversity. 
Time: Sunday 12th September , 13.30 - 14.30
Venue: SIBS site, Foredeck Stage. 

These workshop sessions are organised by ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) and funded by its members as an interactive advisory service for the recreational boating community. 

ICOMIA are active partners in the GloFouling Project organised by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation).

It is the first-ever globally coordinated effort to address biofouling from shipping and all marine sectors including recreational boating. 

For some more background information, please see this link to a five-minute read published by METSTRADE, where one of the workshops will be held on 16th November. 

Watch this space for more updates on similar workshops at the Cannes, Monaco, and Barcelona shows.