No abstract

Biofouling control on human-made structures and seagoing technologies that minimize environmental impacts is a major focus of research in marine industries. However, the most widely used antifouling (AF) method is still copper-based coatings. Some “eco-friendly” approaches are commercially available but have been scarcely tested in natural conditions, especially high-energy environments. We conducted a replicated long-term field experiment in a highly wave-exposed, high productivity coastal environment to test three untreated materials used in maritime industries, two traditional copper-based AF coatings, and two materials offered as “eco-friendly” AF in the market (i.e., a slow-copper release and a self-adhesive, fiber-covered, skin-like coating). We showed that biofouling cover and biomass increased at similar rates over time among all untreated materials, including the skin-like AF. The two traditional copper-based AF coatings and the slow-release AF paint both showed similarly low biofouling biomass and richness, demonstrating their efficacy after 12 months in the field. Although the “eco-friendly” slow-release technologies are not completely innocuous to the environment, we suggest this approach over the more environmentally aggressive traditional copper paints, which are the most widely used in aquaculture and shipping industries today. However, further research is needed to test whether their environmental impact is significantly lower in the long-term than traditional AF paints, and therefore the search for non-toxic coating must continue. The fortuitous settlement and growth of sea urchins in our experiments also suggest that a combination of “eco-friendly” AF and biological control would be possible and should be further investigated. The skin-like coatings must be tested under different environmental conditions, and they are not recommended in wave-exposed coastal habitats.

Current advances in wave energy technologies have enabled the development of new integrated measurement platforms powered by the energy of wave motion. Instrumentation is now being deployed for the long-term observation of the coastal ocean, with the objectives of analyzing the performance of wave energy converters (WECs) and studying their interactions with the surrounding environment and marine life. In this work, we present the most relevant findings of the installation and initial operation of the Open Sea Lab (OSL), the first coastal observatory in Latin America powered entirely by a WEC device. We evaluated the preliminary data regarding the combined operation of the system, the generation of energy, and the observations obtained by the continuous monitoring of physical variables at the site. The data showed the seasonal variability of the energy produced by the WEC for a range of wave heights during the period of observation. We also investigated the rapid development of biofouling on mooring lines, junction boxes, and other parts of the system, which is characteristic of the settlement and growth of organisms in this ocean region. These analyses show how this new facility will advance our understanding of the coastal environment in the south Pacific Ocean and foster new interdisciplinary collaborations addressing environmental and technical challenges, thereby contributing to the development of wave energy on the continent.