Influence of coating type, colour, and deployment timing on biofouling by native and non-native species in a marine renewable energy context

Abstract

Biofouling on marine renewable energy devices presents engineering challenges for this developing sector, and has implications for the spread of marine non-native species (NNS) in coastal waters. This is particularly true at sites with abundant energy resource, little existing infrastructure, and few established NNS. Device coatings, such as antifouling paints, could reduce the risk of NNS spread. Settlement on coatings of various types and colours, representing those likely to be used on renewable energy devices, was assessed in the Orkney Islands, northern Scotland. Assemblage composition, but not overall biofouling cover, varied initially among different coloured surfaces, although differences decreased over time. Different coating types (an anticorrosive paint, a biocidal paint and a fouling-release coating) differed in biofouling abundance and composition for the full duration of the experiment. NNS were mostly, but not completely, absent from antifouling surfaces. These results can help informing antifouling strategies for the marine renewable energy industry.

Keywords:

• Marine biofouling
• marine coatings
• anti-fouling
• non-native species
• marine renewables

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of International Paint (Akzonobel), Gateshead who provided coatings free of charge and applied them to experimental panels. We also thank Orkney Marinas for granting access to Kirkwall and Stromness Marinas and permitting the deployment of the experimental panels. The authors are grateful to the staff and students of the Environmental Research Institute, Thurso for their assistance with fieldwork. We thank the three anonymous reviewers whose comments improved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Social Fund, grant number H&I/ESF/2011/6/3/0052.