Biofouling

[Extract] All pearl culture is impacted by biofouling which is a key operational issue and economic cost for the vast majority of pearl production. Pearl oysters are cultured by a variety of methods depending on the species and the location of the farm. The most common culture methods employ submerged panel nets, baskets or lantern nets suspended from longlines or rafts with alternative techniques including bottom culture on racks or "ear hanging". While the method of culture is principally dependent on environmental factors specific to the location of the farm, including site, depth and season, all pearl culture is affected detrimentally by the biofouling process