Biofilms en mileu marin

Introduction: Almost all submerged surfaces in the marine environment are subject to developing an organic film, with the exception of some living organisms, such as sponges, which do not undergo any great colonization, for no currently-known scientific reason. The presence of this biofilm is at the source of many problems in the oceanographic field and for marine business. This article introduces some drawbacks relating to the existence of this fouling and elaborates upon the main studies conducted at IFREMER concerning the most-used methods for combating it. However, the anti-fouling agents that are generally used for protecting facilities are toxic and can have disastrous consequences on the marine environment's fauna and flora. Moreover, the use of biocides and/or regular cleaning of facilities increases marine industries' operating costs considerably. It appears therefore essential to understand the processes of the biofilm's adhesion and growth, especially during the first stages of adhesion, in order to develop an alternative approach to traditional treatments against marine fouling.