Inhibition of fouling by Pseudoalteromonas tunicata immobilised in κ-carrageenan beads

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 κ-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 we demonstrate long term survival of bacteria immobilised in κ-carrageenan for 12 months in the laboratory and evidence for inhibition of fouling for up to 7 weeks in the field, Sydney Harbour, NSW, Australia. This is the abstract of a preprint of an article accepted by Biofouling [2007] [copyright Taylor & Francis]; Biofouling is available online at: http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/