Biofouling is a global environmental challenge that encompasses technical, environmental, social, and economic facets, demanding a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach for effective intervention.

A significant concern associated with biofouling is its role as a major vector for the transportation and translocation of Invasive Aquatic Species (IAS). These IAS pose a substantial threat to many countries, as they can dominate benthic habitats, disrupt native communities, and displace local species due to their life history characteristics, such as high reproductive output, mass settlement, and rapid growth rates. Consequently, Invasive Species have been recognized as direct drivers of biodiversity loss.

To address this critical issue, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed the Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’ Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species (IMO Biofouling Guidelines, 2011). Though not mandatory, these guidelines offer a set of best management practices to control biofouling and minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species.

In support of the implementation of the IMO Biofouling Guidelines, the IMO, in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched the GloFouling Partnerships Project. This initiative aims to facilitate actions aligned with the IMO Guidelines for the control and management of ships' biofouling, offering a globally consistent approach to how biofouling should be controlled and managed to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species through ships' hulls. Moreover, the project will drive the development of best practices and standards for improved biofouling management across other ocean industries.