Chitosan-based Foul-release Coatings for Aquaculture

Rapid biofouling of aquaculture netting necessitates frequent cleaning. Cleaning by scrubbing or pressure washing can consume as much as 40% of total labor. Chemical methods of biofouling control are not approved for the aquaculture industry. Silicone elastomers that release biofouling have been developed. However, these ¿foul-release coatings¿ are often more expensive than the netting itself and have short service lives. Novel chitosan-based foul-release coatings are proposed to overcome these problems. These coatings are formed from low-cost, non-toxic and waterborne materials. The objective of this research is to experimentally demonstrate that these coatings control fouling more effectively than the industry standard, PDMS. Foul-resistance of coatings will be assessed by exposing coated nets and panels at five different sites, and recording fouling mass and diversity of organisms as a function of time. Chemical and physical property tests are also planned.