Antifouling additives

[Island Time 1,350]

It has recently become apparent that multiple people are adding Ivermectin to their antifouling here in Auckland. I'd just like to point out that this is illegal.

"Ivermectin is not a legal antifouling option in New Zealand, as the Environmental Protection Authority has phased out several harmful antifouling paints, and using substances like Ivermectin in antifouling paints may not comply with regulations. Always check current regulations and consult with local authorities before making any changes."

and;

"Illegal addition or use of prohibited antifouling substances in New Zealand can be enforced under multiple laws; typical penalties include:

Infringement fines (on-the-spot): NZ$600–$2,000 for individuals and NZ$1,200–$4,000 for companies for RMA infringement offences (ranges set by the Resource Management (Infringement Offences) Regulations). environment.govt.nz

Criminal fines on conviction under the Resource Management Act: recent amendments raise maximum fines up to NZ$1,000,000 for individuals and up to NZ$10,000,000 for companies (actual penalty depends on the offence and court). duncancotterill.com1

Additional enforcement outcomes: orders to stop use, removal or disposal of products, remediation costs and liability to pay council/EPA investigation and cleanup costs; insurers cannot cover fines in many cases. duncancotterill.com1

If the issue also breaches hazardous-substances or biosecurity rules (e.g., ACVM, HSNO, Biosecurity Act), separate offences, enforcement actions and penalties may apply under those Acts. mpi.govt.nz"

Just so you know....

 

[Frank 229]

One wag commented that all ivermectin will do is ensure parasite free barnacles , save your money, flush it down the toilet along with cayenne pepper and round up etc.

[LBD 227]

Maybe the paint companies should be once again allowed to use additives that work.

I think that effective antifouling will reduce the likelihood of introducing exotic pests... and having a long term clean bum also reduces fuel consumption... I believe we may have shot ourselves in the foot with overly restrictive legislation limiting the effectiveness of antifouling products.

Which is the lesser evil... paint additives or introduced pests?

[Psyche 955]

Not going to happen, our only hope lies in technology, and considering boats live in the primordial soup from which life arose on this planet I suspect we will be cleaning boats mechanically for a long time to come. 

[Priscilla II 493]

2 hours ago, Psyche said:

Not going to happen, our only hope lies in technology, and considering boats live in the primordial soup from which life arose on this planet I suspect we will be cleaning boats mechanically for a long time to come. 

Yup it doesn’t say much for the development of human intelligence when you need to regularly water blast off the product you paid heaps to put on.🤔

[LBD 227]

8 hours ago, Priscilla II said:

Yup it doesn’t say much for the development of human intelligence when you need to regularly water blast off the product you paid heaps to put on.🤔

And twice as many scrubs and water blasts, and twice as frequent coatings to get the half the life that we would with a more capable antifouling, will still result in the same total quantity of ingredients being released.

[motorb 59]

On 22/05/2026 at 9:39 AM, Priscilla II said:

Yup it doesn’t say much for the development of human intelligence when you need to regularly water blast off the product you paid heaps to put on.🤔

It's pretty intelligent when you think about it....

...intelligently maximizing profits for the antifouling companies.

[Island Time 1,350]

But also you might like to consider why the additives were banned. Take tributinal tin for example. It causes mutations in small sea life - that often ends up in our food chain. Every story has different points of view...

[Black Panther 1,832]

Are people really stupid enough to think a pill for worms in horses will stop growth on the bottom of a boat?

[Murky 9]

13 hours ago, Black Panther said:

Are people really stupid enough to think a pill for worms in horses will stop growth on the bottom of a boat?

Yes, in pretty substantial numbers (no comment made on the wisdom or otherwise).
Especially in locations where owners are experiencing frustration at faster growth than in the past e.g. barnacles in the BOI.
I have sympathy for the guys being asked to apply, then eventually sand or scrape off, a concoction with unknown properties.

And hey, a lot of people (yes, in this country) swore by it as an antidote for Covid at the time - mixing it with paint is a small step in comparison.

[Black Panther 1,832]

47 minutes ago, Murky said:

Yes, in pretty substantial numbers (no comment made on the wisdom or otherwise).
Especially in locations where owners are experiencing frustration at faster growth than in the past e.g. barnacles in the BOI.
I have sympathy for the guys being asked to apply, then eventually sand or scrape off, a concoction with unknown properties.

And hey, a lot of people (yes, in this country) swore by it as an antidote for Covid at the time - mixing it with paint is a small step in comparison.

An indictment of our education system. 

[Frank 229]

4 hours ago, Black Panther said:

An indictment of our education system. 

I think its more subtle than that there are plenty of university educated professionals who have gone down rabbit holes in a very public manner. 

[Island Time 1,350]

Same way some people think they can out-think an industrial chemist. Or an epidemiologist with vaccines for that matter! It's nonsense 🙄 

[Murky 9]

'here's what the Government/major corporates aren't telling you' is a massively compelling statement to some people.

It would be entertaining to sit in on an Ivermectin sales meeting: 'agricultural sector is stable, but our marine and medical sales are skyrocketing despite us spending nothing on marketing'

[Psyche 955]

I am pretty sure that if a paint company could create an anti-foul that worked the way we wanted, they would. 

 

[Frank 229]

From what I have read nature has wired us for pattern recognition presumably for survival, this  trait enables us to identify structure in raw information. When this process gets out of whack it can send the mind down an obsessive, hyper-focused research loop aka the "rabbit hole". It perhaps explains why highly educated and otherwise rational people can hold utterly irrational beliefs. Today's internet algorithms quickly create an echo chamber which no doubt makes an ancient problem a lot worse.

 

 

 

[Black Panther 1,832]

It is true about the algorithms.  If you think, I should at least read this to keep an open mind,  you are then bombarded with flat earth crap for weeks afterward.

[Psyche 955]

What do you mean "flat earth crap" the science is not settled and I have done my own research

[K4309 460]

On 30/05/2026 at 1:49 PM, Island Time said:

Same way some people think they can out-think an industrial chemist. Or an epidemiologist with vaccines for that matter! It's nonsense 🙄 

And some people believe everything the podium of truth tells them.

RIP critical thinking.

[Frank 229]

Agree Keep your critical thinking hat on and do you research although to be fair there is a lot of Junk Science papers being exposed. I still wouldn't substitute anecdotes for evidence though except for the supplements shilled on walk back radio, my mate swears by them eh !