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Biofilms associated with ship submerged surfaces: implications for ship biofouling management and the environment
Summary
This paper is not about microplastics; it reviews how microbial biofilms form on ship hulls and how in-water cleaning might manage biofouling and the spread of non-indigenous marine species.
Biofouling (including initial microbial biofilms) of submerged ship surfaces can directly impact vessel operations, leading to increases in fuel usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and the likelihood of non-indigenous species (NIS) transfer and impacts. Considerations of attainable and consistent biosecurity goals are paramount to the success of the widespread adoption of biofouling management policy. Proactive in-water cleaning (IWC) of biofilms from submerged ship surfaces may provide a viable option from a biosecurity and ship operations standpoint, however these benefits need to be balanced against other environmental costs, including the potential for increased biosecurity risks associated with the elevated release of diverse microbes from ship surfaces.
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