ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the economically important detrimental effects of marine microbes through biofouling of marine surfaces and structures, the biodeterioration of materials, and the spoilage of seafood. The complex dense community that develops leads to the biofouling of all types of marine surfaces, including coastal plants, macroalgae, animals, piers and jetties, oil-drilling rigs, boat hulls, fishing gear, aquaculture cages, engineering materials, concrete and metal structures. Formation of a microbial biofilm alone can cause a 1–2% increase in drag. The chapter shows that microbes play an important role in pollution of coastal waters by sewage, both as human pathogens introduced with fecal waste and also as indicators of pollution for environmental monitoring and evaluating risks to public health. It concludes with discussion of the roles that microbes play in two areas of growing concern, namely the mobilization of toxic mercury and other pollutants into marine food webs, and plastic pollution of the oceans.