The proposed installation of deep-water oil and gas facilities will bring the attention of potential
biofouling communities which will eventually colonize subsea structures. Marine growth is inevitable in
the underwater photic and aphotic layers of marine platforms as it is in tropical waters of the Gulf of
Mexico. The lack of hard substrates in deepwater environments makes subsea production systems
extremely attractive to colonizing organisms. In the long-term, fouling will also become a significant
problem on subsea production structures. Fouling growth masks steel surfaces and interferes with
underwater cathodic protection inspection with remotely controlled vehicles. The precise identification
of fouling organisms is necessary for an adequate selection of antifouling methods. We address the
biological communities to be expected in Southern Gulf of Mexico deepwaters and their potential
biofouling and biocorrosive activity on deepwater structures which will be installed in this area.
Adherence of photosynthetic fouling is expected in the photic zone, and suspension and filter-feeding
organisms will probably be present throughout the water column.
Keywords: biofouling, deep-waters, cathodic protection, risers