What is biofouling and why does it matter? How do ships  and other ocean structures  spread invasive aquatic species? How does it contribute to Greenhouse gas emissions?

A new IMO video animation shows how aquatic organisms can build up on surfaces and structures exposed to the sea - a process known as biofouling. These organisms can be potentially invasive  and spread across oceans,  with sometimes dramatic consequences on biodiversity and economy. 

But there is hope: a global project, led by IMO, has been set up to tackle this problem head on. 

Backed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), IMO's GloFouling Partnerships is bringing together partners and stakeholders all over the world to develop and share solutions to biofouling.

Watch the video here and find out more about biofouling and the GloFouling Partnerships project.