What We Do
This portal collects and presents publicly available knowledge about marine biofouling in aquaculture. We maintain a database of fouling organisms, compare anti-fouling methods, and provide interactive tools to help farm operators estimate costs and choose management strategies.
All content is based on peer-reviewed scientific literature and open data sources. This website is independently operated and is not affiliated with any government body, research institution, or industry consortium.
Why Biofouling Matters
Barnacles, mussels, hydroids, seaweed, and dozens of other organisms settle on submerged aquaculture equipment. This fouling is a persistent problem across every sector of European fish and shellfish farming — cages, nets, pontoons, ropes, bags, and trestles all accumulate unwanted growth.
Industry-wide estimates put the annual cost at 5–10% of total production value across the EU, roughly €260 million per year. The expenses include:
- Net cleaning and replacement for cage farms: €50,000–100,000/year per site
- Manual cleaning of shellfish stock: up to 20% of product market value
- Quality downgrades — fouled mussels can drop from Class A to Class B pricing
- Reduced fish growth rates in fouled pens due to restricted water flow
Background
The domain name crabproject.com originally hosted a platform for a European research programme on aquaculture biofouling that ran in the mid-2000s. That project produced organism databases, management strategies, and economic assessments that shaped industry practice across Europe.
This website is not a continuation of that project. We have no connection to the original research consortium or its member organisations. The site uses publicly available scientific data to provide an independent information resource on aquaculture biofouling.
Tools & Resources
The portal offers four interactive tools, all free to use:
- Organisms Database — browse fouling species by type, region, and severity
- Biofouling Cost Calculator — estimate annual fouling costs for your farm setup
- Anti-Fouling Comparison — compare methods by effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact
- Aquaculture Farm Map — explore case study locations across European waters
Disclaimer
The information on this website is provided for general educational purposes. It does not constitute professional advice. We make no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the content. Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions about aquaculture management practices.