Antifouling activity of six nontoxic chemicals on spore attachment of Ulva fasciata.

Marine biofouling cause severe damage to all marine technologies. Indiscriminate use of toxic metallic antifouling (AF) chemicals (cuprous oxide and TBT) to control the biofouling in turn greatly affects the flora and fauna of the marine ecosystem. In search of environmentally safe and effective AF agents, six nontoxic AF candidates were studied against the spore attachment of Ulva fasciata. Spore attachment was inhibited at 100 microg of trans-cinnamic acid (TCA) and benzoic acid (BA). Sulfate-coumaric acid (SCA) had no significant effect on the spore attachment. The release rate of BA exhibited a constant release flow. Varied response of U. fasciata spores to AF chemicals and release rate to the surrounding medium are discussed.