Analysis of biofouling economic impact on the Cantabria fishing fleet

Any artificial structure in contact with seawater is rapidly coated by a microbiological biofilm, which serves as a base for macro-organisms to grow on. This phenomenon, known as biofouling, causes structural problems and its mitigation involves a severe economic outlay for maritime industries. The research estimated the impact of biofouling on the economic management of the ship exploitation by determining the composition of the exploitation costs of the fishing fleet in the Spanish region of Cantabria derived from its growth on the underwater hull ships, using an input-output model. As a primary source of information, an inquiry was carried out with interested parties, which allowed obtaining data related to general characteristics and objective and subjective costs. The results showed the significant socio-economic impact that the activity of the fishing fleet has on the region. Income from the production of the fishing fleet has been increasing in recent years, increasing productivity per ship by around 10% per year. The multipliers of production, income and employment in the sector valued the direct and indirect impact that the fishing fleet has on related sectors and, therefore, its contribution to the economy of the region of each of the components of demand final. Regarding the costs for the maintenance of the underwater hull of the ship derived from the growth of biofouling, they represent 3% of the intermediate consumption of the ship with respect to its fishing production and almost 40% of the costs for spare parts, repair and maintenance of the ship. The multipliers of production, income and employment associated with the activities of the maintenance of the living work of the ship derived from the settlement of the biofouling value the direct and indirect economic impact that these activities have on the sectors involved and, therefore, their contribution to the economy of the region of each of the components of final demand. Therefore, what for the shipowner of the ship represents a problem in the form of an added intermediate consumption, for the companies in the region that directly and indirectly provide maintenance service to the Cantabrian fishing fleet represents productivity, income and employment and, therefore, the activation of the economy of the region.