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Sea-trial verification of a novel system for monitoring biofouling and testing anti-fouling coatings in highly energetic environments targeted by the marine renewable energy industry

Want, Andrew; Bell, {Michael C.}; Harris, {Robert Ewan}; Hull, {Mark Q.}; Long, {Caitlin R.}; Porter, {Joanne S.}

Authors

{Michael C.} Bell

{Robert Ewan} Harris

{Mark Q.} Hull

{Caitlin R.} Long

{Joanne S.} Porter



Abstract

A novel system was developed to deploy settlement panels to monitor biofouling growth in situ and evaluate antifouling coatings at depths representative of operational conditions of full-scale marine renewable energy devices. Biofouling loading, species diversity, and succession were assessed at depths ranging from 25-40 m at four tests sites in Orkney (UK) featuring extreme wave and tidal current exposure to more sheltered conditions. Evaluations were carried out over a period of 8 months with intermediate retrieval of samples after 3 months. Early pioneer fouling communities, comprised of colonial hydroids, were succeeded by tube-forming amphipods across sites while solitary tunicates dominated in greater shelter. The highest biofouling loading was observed on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) panels (6.17 kg m−2) compared with coated steel (3.34 kg m−2) panels after 8 months. Distinct assemblages were present at exposed vs sheltered sites. Better understanding of fouling and antifouling strategies may provide guidance to more effectively manage biofouling impacts in this sector.

Citation

Want, A., Bell, {. C., Harris, {. E., Hull, {. Q., Long, {. R., & Porter, {. S. (2021). Sea-trial verification of a novel system for monitoring biofouling and testing anti-fouling coatings in highly energetic environments targeted by the marine renewable energy industry. Biofouling, 37(4), 433--451. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2021.1928091

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 4, 2021
Online Publication Date Jun 14, 2021
Publication Date 2021
Deposit Date Dec 15, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jan 3, 2023
Journal Biofouling
Print ISSN 0892-7014
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 37
Issue 4
Pages 433--451
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2021.1928091
Keywords Biofouling; Marine renewable energy; Settlement panels; Wave; Tidal; Ocean energy
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4152546

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Publisher Licence URL
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2021.1928091
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.





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