Low-copper paints matched high-copper rivals, while silicone performed best against fouling

When comparing different types of antifouling paints against fouling on leisure boats, the results were the opposite of what many would expect. Of the paints tested, the biocide-free silicone paint worked best, and the paint marketed as environmentally friendly turned out to be extremely toxic. The study, led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, was conducted in Swedish, Danish and French coastal waters and also showed that coatings with a low copper content can be just as effective as those containing more copper.