Materials problems in the utilization of marine biology resources

Abstract Materials in biology are of greatest economic concern as they impact on the production of food from the sea. Two aspects of materials interaction with biology include: (1) the restrictions imposed by the plants and animals of an area on the utilization of available materials, and (2) the limitations in types and strengths of materials which are presently being utilized to meet biological problems. Biological degradation of materials results from fouling, boring, enhanced corrosion, biting, deterioration, sound interference, and sound production. Although new materials have advanced our use of biological resources, we are still at the exploratory phase of using materials in the sea and marine organisms offer some lessons to add to our repertory of possible actions.