Marine Biofouling and its Control: History and State-of-the-Art Review

Marine fouling has been a major problem for man since he first placed materials in the ocean environment. Until four or five years ago, the methods used for the control of biofouling had not changed much from those used by the Phoenicians in the 13th century B.C. This paper reviews the historical and biological context for the new methods of fouling control. An overview of present day antifouling technology is presented and the future of fouling control technology is discussed.