AU8094298A - Antifouling of shellfish and aquaculture apparatus - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 Antifouling of Shellfish and Aquaculture Apparatus Technical Field The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of lowering the incidence of fouling of marine and aquatic animals, particularly 5 shellfish, and apparatus used in aquaculture. Background Art Shellfish aquaculture, in dollar terms, represents well over half of the Australian aquaculture industry, with pearl oysters and Sydney rock oysters the most important sectors. Total Australian market value in 1994-5 was 10 $302 million (worldwide, an estimated $6.8 billion). As with other sectors of the aquaculture industry, biofouling - settlement and growth of unwanted marine organisms - comprises a significant cost to the industry. Unlike finfish culture, however, where fouling is a problem only for gear (ropes, pens, trays, etc.), fouling in shellfish culture is also a significant problem for 15 the animals themselves. This is because the shells of oysters, mussels, scallops etc. are surfaces for settlement of fouling organisms. Fouling of shellfish reduces their growth, survival, and marketability. The costs of fouling to the shellfish industry in Australia and worldwide are substantial. It has been estimated that the decline in production of Sydney 20 rock oysters in the Port Stephens (NSW Australia) estuary from -$20 million p.a. to $5 million p.a. over the past 10 years was due almost entirely to "overcatch"(fouling) of Pacific oysters on the shells of the cultured Sydney rock oysters, which renders them unmarketable. Moreover, the true costs of biofouling are often underestimated. For example, if biofouling could be 25 prevented on rock oysters, they could be grown subtidally rather than intertidally. Growth would consequently be enhanced, and time to market significantly reduced. Such advantages are not usually included in costs associated with biofouling. Currently fouling on shellfish is controlled in several ways. One way 30 is manual cleaning, which is very inefficient and costly. For example, it is common practice for pearl oyster farmers in northern Australia to remove and clean each oyster on a farm every 7-14 days. The cost of this practice for the sector is between $8 and $20 million p.a., which represents 3-7% of the total market value of pearls in Australia. Other methods of controlling 35 biofouling are frequent and prolonged emersion, or even dipping briefly in near boiling water (both methods are used for Sydney rock oysters).

WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 2 Current methods of controlling biofouling are clearly inefficient, costly and time consuming. The present inventors have developed a method for treating shellfish which inhibits fouling for at least 10 weeks and which has no adverse effect on survival of the treated shellfish. This is the first 5 antifouling coating designed for application to living animals. Disclosure of Invention In a first aspect, the present invention consists in an antifouling coating composition comprising a carrier and an antifouling agent belonging to the families of isothiazolones or furanones, wherein the composition is 10 substantially non-toxic to a cultured marine or aquatic animal when applied to the animal. The antifouling composition according to the present invention is considered as being non-toxic if it can be applied to the animal without adversely effecting the growth or survival of that animal during the period in 15 which the animal is exposed to the composition applied thereto. The animal is preferably a shellfish, more preferably a scallop, abalone, mussel, clam, pearl oyster, or edible oyster. The furanones may be natural or modified furanones produced by marine algae or synthetically produced furanones or mixtures thereof. A 20 mixture of synthetic furanones found to be particularly suitable is called herein 2/8/1, where 2 is (5Z)-3-butyl-4-bromo-5-(bromiomethylidene)-2(5H)-furanone; 8 is 3-butyl-5-(dibromomethylidene)-2(51H)-furanonle; and 1 is 3-butyl-4-bromo-5-(dibromomethylidene)-2(5H)-furanone. 25 The substantially non-toxic carrier can be natural, synthetic or a combination of both. It will be appreciated that the carrier should be able to stick or attach to the surface of shellfish and the like and remain substantially attached in an aqueous environment for a reasonable period of time. The carrier should also be miscible with the antifouling agent without 30 adversely affecting the antifouling action of the agent. Natural carriers suitable include polymers which form hydrogels like Phytagel or preferably derived from shellac, a resinous excretion of the insect Laccifer (Tachardia) lacca Kerr, order Homoptera, family Coccidae ("lac" beetle secretions). Other suitable carriers include but not limited to latex or casein gel. The carrier 35 should be substantially non-toxic to the animal to which the coating is applied.

WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 3 Examples of suitable isothiazolones and furanones are shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the isothiazolone antifouling agent is (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4 isothiazolin-3-one; Figure 1) produced and sold by Rohm and Haas under the name Sea-Nine 211TM. 5 In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the antifouling agents are used at a concentration of about 1 to 40%, more preferably from about 4 to 20% (w/w) of coating. In particular, a concentration of 15% has been found to be particularly effective when used with dried "lac" beetle secretions dissolved in ethanol (25:75 on a 10 weight:volume basis). It will be appreciated that mixtures of antifouling agents (natural, synthetic, or commercial) may also be used to prepare the coating according to the present invention. The coating may further include other ingredients in the form of plasticisers, preservatives, solvents, organic additives and diluents, and 15 water. In a second aspect, the present invention consists in a method of reducing or inhibiting the fouling of a marine or aquatic animal comprising treating at least part of the surface of the animal with an antifouling coating comprising a carrier and an antifouling agent belonging to the family of 20 isothiazolones or furanones, wherein the carrier and the antifouling agent are substantially non-toxic to the animal. The animal is preferably a shellfish, more preferably a scallop, abalone, pearl, mussel, clam, oyster, or edible oyster. The coating may be applied to the animal by any suitable means. 25 Examples include painting, spraying, electrostatic spraying, brushing, and dipping. In a third aspect, the present invention consists in the use of an antifouling composition according to the first aspect of the present invention to reduce or inhibit the fouling of a marine or aquatic animal. 30 In a fourth aspect, the present invention consists in method of reducing or inhibiting the fouling of an aquaculture apparatus, the method comprising treating at least part of the surface of the aquaculture apparatus with an antifouling coating composition according to the first aspect of the present invention. 35 The aquaculture apparatus suitable for treatment may be any apparatus used in mariculture and aquaculture industries. Examples include netting, WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 4 mesh. panels, trays, ropes, floats, pumps, and monitoring equipment. The coating may be applied to the apparatus by any suitable means. Examples include painting, spraying, electrostatic spraying, brushing, and dipping. The advantage of this aspect of the present invention is that the 5 composition used adds significantly less weight to the treated apparatus and is not toxic to marine and aquatic animals in use. Traditional use of conventional antifouling compositions which include heavy metals for example have been found to be unsatisfactory due to the weight added to the apparatus as well as being potentially toxic to the marine organisms grown in 10 the particular aquaculture. In a fifth aspect, the present invention consists in the use of an antifouling composition according to the first aspect of the present invention to reduce or inhibit the fouling of aquaculture apparatus. Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, 15 the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood, 20 preferred forms will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 shows examples of suitable isothiazolones and furanones for the present invention. In Fig. lB (isothiazolones),

R

1 , R 2 and R 3 are either a 25 hydrogen atom, methyl, alkyl, hydroxyl, ether, halogen, sulphur, nitrogen or a combination thereof. In Fig. 1C (furanones), R,, R 2 , and R 3 are either a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, an ester group, or a halogenated alkene; or R, and R 2 together are an unsubstituted or a halogenated alkene, R 4 is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, and R 5 is a hydrogen 30 or an alkyl group. Figure 2 shows the percent surface area of scallop shells covered by all fouling organisms (data are means + SE). Experimental treatments in Figure 2 (and Figs. 3-6) are AI = scallops coated with shellac and Sea-nine 211, carrier = shellac only, and control = uncoated. 35 Figure 3 shows the percent surface of the cupped and flat valves of scallop shells covered by all fouling organisms (data are means + SE).

WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 5 Figure 4 shows the percent surface area of scallop shells covered by oysters (data are means + SE). Figure 5 shows the percent surface area of scallops shells covered by bryozoans (data are means + SE). 5 Figure 6 shows the percent surface area of scallop shells covered by sponges (data are means + SE). Figure 7 shows the percent cover of fouling organisms on pearl oyster shells over ten weeks (data are means + SE). Figure 8 shows the percentage cover (means and S.E.) of fouling on 10 coated oysters in the subtidal at Port Stephens over time. Figure 9 shows number of bycatch oysters (means and S.E.) settled on coated oysters in the subtidal at Port Stephens after 18 weeks. Figure 10 shows fouling on tiles showing antifouling activity up to 30 weeks. 15 Figure 11 shows leaching of Sea-Nine 211

T

M from shellac from weeks 0 18. Figure 12 shows release rates of Sea-Nine 211"' from shellac. Figure 13 shows levels of mesh occlusion on panels of 33 mm salmon cage netting where each point is a mean of 3 samples. 20 Figure 14 shows levels of mesh occlusion on panels of 60 mm tuna cage netting where each point is a mean of 3 samples. Figure 15 shows levels of mesh occlusion on panels of 12 mm salmon cage netting where each point is a mean of 3 samples. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention 25 Jervis Bay Tests METHODS Test coatings consisted of shellac, as used in furniture waxes and polishes, incorporating an active antifouling ingredient. In the examples described below the active ingredient is Sea-Nine 211

T

, an isothiazolone 30 antifouling compound sold by Rohm & Haas. However, a variety of active ingredients could be incorporated into the shellac, including other isothiazolone type compounds, natural antifouling metabolites such as halogenated furanones, or other biocides. The isothiazolones and furanones covered in this specification are shown in Figure 1. There are many 35 variations on shellac, all of which, however, are derived from the bodily secretions of the "lac" beetle. In the present formulations, the dried beetle WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 6 secretions are dissolved in ethanol (25:75 on a weight:volume basis), the active ingredient incorporated (@ 15% w:v), and the resulting solution applied to the surface of the animals either by painting (as described below), spraying, or dipping. 5 Shellfish Trials Field trials with two shellfish are described below; living scallops (Pecten fuimatus), and pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) shells. Live Scallop Coating Experiment MATERIALS and METHODS 10 Field tests on fouling of the edible scallop Pecten fuimatus were carried out at the NSW Fisheries research scallop aquaculture facility in Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia. Three treatments were used in the trials. 1) Control scallops (untreated); 2) Scallops coated only in shellac (designated as "carrier" in the relevant 15 figures); and 3) Scallops coated in carrier plus the active ingredient Sea-Nine 211TM (designated as AI) Fifteen scallops were used for each treatment. The scallops ranged in size from 1 to 3 cm shell width. 20 The coating control (carrier [shellac] only) and active ingredient treatments were coated onto the scallops using a paint brush. The scallops were left to air dry for two minutes before being placed into pearl nets and resuspended in the water. Control scallops were exposed to the same coating and drying conditions as coating controls and the active ingredient treatment. 25 Field placement Cages were hung off the long line in Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia. The cages were hung off one line between a depth of 3 to 6 metres. The experiment remained submerged for eight weeks after which time the scallops were removed and survival of scallops and fouling on individual 30 valves of each scallop (cupped & flat) quantified. Measurement of fouling on scallop shells Fouling was quantified using a standard point intercept method. A 0.5 x 0.5 cm grid was placed over the shell, and the presence and type of fouling organisms counted. Results are presented as percent cover of fouling 35 organisms on the shells. The two halves of each scallop were analysed separately as "cupped" and "flat" valves. However, as in most cases there WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 7 was no difference in fouling for the cupped and flat valves the results for individual fouling organisms were combined. Mortality of scallops was also recorded. The resulting data were analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test. Data were analysed after 5 arcsin transformations where applicable. RESULTS Total Fouling Treating scallops with shellac and Sea-Nine 211"' (AI in Fig. 2) strongly deterred the settlement and growth of fouling organisms (single 10 factor ANOVA, p = 0.0001; Fig 2; Plates 1-3). Mean percentage coverage of whole scallop shells was 10 % for treated shells compared with 43 % for untreated controls. The coating control ("carrier") scallops were also significantly less fouled (28%) than control shells, demonstrating that shellac alone had significant antifouling activity (Fig. 2). Mortality only occurred for 15 control scallops, where two of fifteen scallops died (13%). There were significant differences in the fouling community of cupped vs. flat valves for control scallops (p =0:0001) but not on scallops which had been treated either with shellac or with shellac + Sea-Nine 211"' (Fig. 3). While the distribution of fouling organisms was not a primary goal of the 20 trials, the difference in settlement of fouling organisms on different parts of the shell may be of importance in designing appropriate antifouling formulations. Therefore, results for total fouling are presented for both cupped and flat valves, but results for individual species are presented as combined data for both valves of the scallops. 25 Inhibition of individual taxa of fouling organisms The major fouling organisms of whole scallops, ranked in order of percent coverage of scallop shell, were, oysters (Ostrea cuigasi), bryozoans (Membranipora sp. and others), and sponges. Tubeworms, the bivalve Electroma georgiana, and barnacles were also present, but in very low 30 abundance, and were not considered further. Oysters Oysters were the most abundant fouling organism. There was a significant effect of treatment of oysters on % coverage (single factor ANOVA, p = 0.0001). The AI (Shellac + Sea-Nine 211T"') treatment was 35 significantly more deterrent than the carrier treatment or the control, which were not different from each other (Tukey's test a = 0.05). Mean percentage WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 8 coverage of oysters for the AI treatment shells was 4 % compared with 22 % for the carrier alone, and 19 % for control scallops. (Fig. 4) Bryozoans Bryozoans, in particular encrusting species, were the next most 5 common major fouling organism. The treatments had a significant effect on % coverage (single factor ANOVA, p = 0.0001). However, in contrast to the oyster, both the carrier (shellac by itself) and the AI treatment significantly deterred fouling and there was no significant difference between the two treatments (Tukey's test oc = 0.05). Mean percentage coverage for AI 10 treatment shells was 1% compared with 3 % for the carrier, and 10 % for control scallops. (Fig. 5) Sponges The third most common fouling organism was sponges. Again the treatments had a significant effect on % coverage (single factor ANOVA, p = 15 0.0001) and as was the case for bryozoans both the carrier and the AI treatment significantly deterred fouling without a significant difference between the two treatments (Tukey's test a = 0.05). In fact both treatments completely inhibited the settlement of sponges while the control shells had a mean coverage of 9 % of shell area. (Fig. 6) 20 Darling Harbour Pearl Oyster Shell Tests METHODS AND RESULTS Shells of pearl oysters were coated as described above in either shellac, or shellac incorporating 15% v:v Sea-Nine 211TM. Control shells were untreated. Three shells per treatment were used in the trial. The shells were 25 placed in submerged trays in Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW, Australia and fouling monitored via weekly photographs. Percent cover of fouling organisms was then estimated from the photographs by the point intercept method. As is seen below in Figure 7, shellac + Sea-Nine 211'TM significantly inhibited fouling of the shells for 10 weeks (the duration of the trial). 30 Fouling on control shells, and those treated with shellac only, reached 100% cover within 6 weeks. In contrast, shells with Shellac + Sea-Nine 211"'TM only had a mean of 18% cover after 10 weeks. Moreover, fouling on treated shells was mostly restricted to one shell, suggesting that coating of that shell may have not been properly done. Fouling organisms were primarily algae and 35 diatoms.

WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 9 SUMVIMARY The present inventors have shown that coating scallops or oysters with shellac containing Sea-Nine 211TM significantly inhibits fouling of shellfish for 8-10 weeks. In some instances, particularly against some invertebrates, 5 shellac by itself significantly inhibited fouling. Given current farming practices in shellfish aquaculture, and the fact that reasonably frequent recoating of the animals would be necessary as they grow, this length of time is probably appropriate for this application. Moreover, given the low price of shellac and Sea-Nine 211'TM, these coatings have considerable commercial 10 potential. Field Biofouling Trials of Antifouling Coatings on Live Oysters at Port Stephens METHODS AND RESULTS Stage I trial 15 The field trial testing the antifouling coatings on oysters at the Port Stephens Fisheries Centre was finalised on week 22 of the trial. This coincided with the slight increase, at varying rates, of the fouling cover on the treated oysters, as shown by figure 8. The trial was testing the antifouling efficacy of two different active 20 ingredients (AI's), Sea-Nine 211'TM and the furanone 281, incorporated into carrier coatings when applied to live oysters. The AI's are being tested at concentrations ranging from 10-15% by weight of the carrier coating, using both single and double coats. The trial was conducted in both the inter-tidal and the sub-tidal. In addition to monitoring fouling, oyster mortality was 25 monitored to determine if the coatings and methods used were harmful to the oysters. Fouling cover was first measured 6 weeks after the start of the trial and has been measured every 3 weeks thereafter. Coated oysters were photographed in the field using a digital camera and fouling cover was 30 measured in the laboratory using the digital images. Fouling cover was measured by estimating the percentage cover of fouling organisms on the oysters. The fouling cover observed was comprised predominantly of barnacles and a small percentages of bryozoans and oysters. The treatments with the highest antifouling efficacy compared to 35 controls, with a mean fouling cover of 15% (this translates to 85% inhibition of fouling cover) in this trial, were Sea-Nine 211'TM 15% single and double WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 10 coats (Figure 8). Sea Nine-211 10% single and double coatings also significantly inhibited the development of fouling with a mean fouling cover of 20%. This compares favourably with the untreated control which shows a mean fouling cover of 50% and the shellac controls with a 35-40% fouling 5 cover (Figure 8). The furanone s2/8/1 15% were as effective with a fouling cover approaching 25%, for both the single and double coatings (a 50% reduction compared to the untreated control as seen in Figure 8). Overall, there was little fouling in the inter-tidal region. All but one treatment had a mean percentage cover of fouling at or less than 5% after 12 10 weeks. After 22 weeks the fouling cover has reached a maximum fouling cover of 8% for the controls and less than 5% for the treatments. After twelve weeks into the fouling trial there was a Pacific oyster settlement event. This enabled an observation of the efficacy of the different coatings as inhibitors of oyster bycatch. Figure 9 presents the number of new 15 Pacific oyster recruits that settled on the coated oysters. All of the treatment oysters, including coating alone, strongly inhibited bycatch. The double coated treatments containing both Sea-Nine 211"'TM or the furanones 2/8/1 (at either 10 or 15%) were the most effective, almost totally inhibiting bycatch. An experiment to determine the effect of coating on oyster mortality 20 was started. In this experiment, 10 oysters of each treatment were tagged and coated and placed in the subtidal and mortality and fouling monitored. After 2 weeks only 4 oysters out of a total of 120 had died, and after 13 weeks only 7 had died. These dead oysters were spread across a number of different treatments, including the untreated control which demonstrates that the 25 mortality is not a result of the coatings procedure or the active ingredients. Stage II trial The shellac trial (stage II) was run for 30 weeks. This experiment was conducted to improve novel antifouling techniques for the aquaculture industry. Shellac was used as a carrier to coat Sea-Nine 211TM onto perspex 30 tiles to determine whether Shellac with C9-211 was effective as an antifouling application and whether the rate at which Sea-Nine 211TM would leach out of the shellac formulation. The results of the treatments to fouling inhibition are shown in Figure 10. The three most effective treatments (10% double layer, and both 15% 35 single and double layers) remained unfouled for 30 weeks. This compares to a 75% fouling cover on both single and double controls, after only 4 weeks.

WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 11 Measurements of leaching were carried out to determine the decrease in concentration of Sea-Nine 211"' in each treatment, as shown in Figure 11. This indicates a regular rate of leaching over the 18 week trial period for each treatment of the same concentration. The rate of leaching is highest for the 5 15% Sea-Nine 211TM loadings (single and double), while decreasing with reduced compound loading. The rate of compound release per day is important in determining the effectiveness of a given treatment over time (Figure 12). Treatments 5% single layer, 10% single and double layer and 15% double layer had the 10 highest initial drops with release rates from 1-2gg/cm 2 /day. The release rate varied for each treatment, over the following 16 weeks, but remained less than 2.0 pg/cn1 2 /day (Figure 12). Shellac Coatings for Fish-Cage Netting - Tasmanian Field Trial METHODS 15 Design of field trial Forty-eight panels were immersed to evaluate the antifouling efficacy of shellac-based coatings on netting. The panels were immersed at 2.5 m depth and each contained a 50 cm X 50 cm section of netting. Panels were attached at randomly-chosen positions to three 8 m beams of a large frame 20 (each beam was parallel and separated by 2 m). The frame was tethered within a salmon-cage collar and panels were positioned perpendicular to the current flow. Fouling was compared between uncoated netting, netting coated with shellac only (no added antifoulant), and netting coated with shellac that 25 contained Sea-Nine 211"'. Several formulations of shellac and sizes of netting mesh were tested, to give a total of 16 treatments (Table 1). For each treatment three replicate panels were immersed. Preparation and application of coatings Shellac coatings were formulated according to Table 2. Nets were 30 coated by complete immersion of the netting pieces and constant agitation for at least 2 minutes. Nets were air-dried for 48 hours prior to attachment to the test panels. The change in netting weight, from before to after coating, was also determined.

WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 12 Quantification of fouling on test panels. Close-up underwater photographs of each panel were taken 4 weeks immersion and 10 weeks immersion. Photographs were taken using a Nikonos-V camera with two SB-103 strobes, a Nikonos close-up outfit (1:4.5) 5 and 100 ASA film. The level of mesh blockage on each sampling occasion was quantified by image analysis of the photographs. During photography, a blue sheet was suspended behind the panels to provide a background of high contrast with the fouling and netting. All photographs were scanned into an IBM-pc 10 computer and then analysed using the image-processing software IDRISI (V. 4.1). Image analysis was used to quantify the area of blue, and thus the open area of the netting mesh, in each photograph. RESULTS Rate of fouling development 15 Fouling developed rapidly on all uncoated netting and all netting coated with shellac only (no antifoulant added) (Figures 13, 14, 15). After 4 weeks, the smaller meshes were more than 70% occluded and the larger meshes more than 20% occluded. After 10 weeks, the smaller meshes remained 70% occluded, but occlusion of the larger meshes increased to 20 more than 60%. Smaller meshes are generally occluded more rapidly because of the larger surface area available for attachment of fouling. Inhibitory effect of shellac with Sea-Nine 211"'TM All shellac coatings that contained Sea-Nine 211"'TM caused a significant reduction in mesh occlusion. On the larger meshes, less than 5% of the 25 netting was occluded after 4 weeks. After 10 weeks, less than 20% of the 33 mmn mesh was occluded and less than 10% of the 60 mm mesh was occluded. The better coatings on the 12 mm mesh limited occlusion to less than 5% after 4 weeks and less than 30% after 10 weeks. Optimum coating design 30 A range of shellac-based coatings was evaluated on the 12 mm mesh. The most effective was the standard shellac double-coat that contained 15% Sea-Nine 211

TM

. The second most effective was the thick shellac that contained 10% Sea-Nine 211"'TM. No distinction could be made between the other Sea-Nine 211"'TM coatings, which were all less effective than the two 35 aforementioned treatments (Figure 15). Changes in netting weight after coating with shellac WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 13 For 12 mm salmon-cage netting a single coat of the standard shellac increases net weight by about 20%. For 12 mm salmon-cage netting a double coat of the standard shellac increases net weight by about 45%. 5 For 33 mm salmon-cage netting a single coat of the standard shellac increases net weight by about 30%. SUMMARY Preliminary results show that shellac with Sea-Nine 211"'TM significantly reduced fouling of fish-cage netting. After 10 weeks immersion, coated 60 10 mm tuna-cage netting was only 10% occluded whereas uncoated netting was 70% occluded. After the same period, coated 33 mm salmon-cage netting was less than 20% occluded whereas uncoated netting was 60% occluded. Of the range of coatings evaluated, two were shown to be superior (in terms of fouling inhibition): (1) standard shellac double-coat with 15% sea 15 nine 211, and (2) thick shellac single-coat with 10% sea-nine 211. A single coating of shellac-based antifouling composition increased the weight of 12 mmn netting by 20% and 33 mmn netting by 30%. This is significantly lower than copper-based antifoulants that typically increase net weight by 100%. 20 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore. to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims (22)

1. An antifouling coating composition comprising a carrier and an antifouling agent belonging to the families of isothiazolones or furanones, wherein the composition is substantially non-toxic to a cultured marine or 5 aquatic animal when applied to the animal.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the cultured marine or aquatic animal is a shellfish.

3. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the shellfish is selected from the group consisting of scallop, abalone, mussel, clam, pearl oyster, and 10 edible oyster.

4. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the substantially non-toxic carrier is natural, synthetic or a combination thereof.

5. The composition according to claim 4 wherein the natural carrier is selected from the group consisting of polymers which form hydrogels 15 including Phytagel, shellac, latex, and casein.

6. The composition according to claim 5 wherein the natural carrier is shellac.

7. The composition according to claim 7 wherein the shellac is dissolved in ethanol (25:75 (w/v)). 20

8. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the isothiazolone is 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

9. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the furanone is a mixture of furanones (5Z)-3-butyl-4-bromo-5 (bromomethylidene)-2(5H)-furanone; 3-butyl-5-(dibromomethylidene)-2(51H) 25 furanone; and 3-butyl-4-bromIo-5-(dibromomethylidene)-2(5H)-furanone.

10. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the antifouling agent is used at a concentration of 1 to 40% (w/w) of the coating composition.

11. The composition according to claim 10 wherein the antifouling agent 30 is used at a concentration from 4 to 20% (w/w) of the coating composition.

12. The composition according to claim 11 wherein the antifouling agent is used at a concentration of 15% (w/w) of the coating composition.

13. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12 further including other ingredients in the form of plasticisers, preservatives, 35 solvents, organic additives, diluents, and water. WO 99/05227 PCT/AU98/00508 18

14. A method of reducing or inhibiting the fouling of a marine or aquatic animal, the method comprising treating at least part of the surface of the animal with an antifouling coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13. 5

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the cultured marine or aquatic animal is a shellfish.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the shellfish is selected from the group consisting of scallop, abalone, mussel, clam, pearl oyster, and edible oyster. 10

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the coating is applied to the animal by means selected from the group consisting of painting, spraying, electrostatic spraying, brushing, and dipping.

18. Use of an antifouling coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13 to reduce or inhibit fouling of a marine or aquatic animal. 15

19. A method of reducing or inhibiting the fouling of an aquaculture apparatus, the method comprising treating at least part of the surface of the aquaculture apparatus with an antifouling coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the aquaculture apparatus 20 is selected from the group consisting of netting, mesh, panels, trays, ropes, floats, pumps, and monitoring equipment.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the coating is applied to the aquaculture apparatus by means selected from the group consisting of painting, spraying, electrostatic spraying, brushing, and dipping. 25

22. Use of an antifouling coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13 to reduce or inhibit fouling of an aquaculture apparatus.