Inhibition of fouling by marine bacteria immobilised in k-carrageenan beads

Abstract

Antifouling solutions that leave little or no impact in the world’s oceans are constantly being sought. This study employed the immobilisation of the antifouling bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata in k-carrageenan to demonstrate how a surface may be protected from fouling by bacteria, i.e. a ‘living paint’. Attempts so far to produce a ‘living paint’ have been limited in both longevity of effectiveness and demonstration of applicability, most noticeably regarding the lack of any field data. Here survival of bacteria immobilised in k-carrageenan for 12 months in the laboratory is demonstrated and evidence presented for inhibition of fouling for up to 7 weeks in the field (Sydney Harbour, NSW, Australia).