3D tool for monitoring fouling in small vessels from Asturias, Bay of Biscay

The transfer of invasive species poses a serious threat to global ecology and economy, causing substantial damage to biodiversity. These species colonize new habitats outside their natural distribution range due to human activities, resulting in ecological, economic, and health-related harm. The primary pathways for their introduction are ballast water and biofouling. Biofouling not only causes biological contamination but also negatively impacts the hydrodynamic performance of vessels, increasing fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. This study focused on the analysis of biofouling on small vessels across nine ports in Asturias, in the Bay of Biscay. During dry-docking, biofouling samples were collected from 40 vessels, and information on their characteristics, hull treatments, and navigation areas was recorded. A total of 163 species were identified, 15 (10.6%) of which were classified as invasive. 3D technologies and RGB image recognition were employed to model the hulls and assess the percentage of biofouling on each vessel. The study revealed that the majority of vessels exhibited significant fouling coverage, with 90% of the ships showing biofouling levels between 50% and 100% of the hull surface. The findings underscore the urgent need for more effective strategies to control biofouling on small vessels, which are often not subject to strict regulations. The implementation of 3D technologies and RGB image recognition could facilitate the monitoring and control of this phenomenon, which might reduce the spread of invasive species. • Small crafts, due to lack of regulation, play a key role in spreading invasive species. • Forty ships from nine Asturian ports are analysed to identify biofouling and species. • 3D technology and RGB offer a fast, simple, and low-cost method for monitoring biofouling. • Ninety percent of small crafts had 50% to 100% of their hulls covered with biofouling. • 163 species were identified, 15 of which were invasive. At least one NIS was found on 96.7% of vessels.