What lives in the water below the Royal Albert Dock?

The Liverpool waterfront is an iconic part of the city. 

But have you ever wondered what creatures live below the water line in the Royal Albert Dock? 

Dr Simone Durr and LJMU's School of Biological and Environmental Sciences have been working in partnership with National Museums Liverpool and The Canal and River Trust on collaboration projects across the city, and with partners across the globe, to learn more about the species living in these ecosystems. 

What creatures live in the Royal Albert Dock? 

The docks are a thriving urban ecosystem, with crabs, shrimps, mussels, sea squirts, fish and sticklebacks all living below the water line in the Royal Albert Dock. The water is also home to eels, some reaching 1.5 metres long and they can often be spotted feeding near the surface during the day. Creatures thrive in the docks as they provide a sheltered environment where marine life can quickly settle and grow. 

Not all marine life is helpful

While the docks are a perfect place for underwater communities, organism can attach themselves to ships ropes and dock walls, in what is known as biofouling.  

Marine biofouling in docks is made up of both native species and non-native invasive species. Invasive species can cause significant problems for local ecosystems because they are often highly adaptable and can outcompete native wildlife.  

Once introduced, often via ships arriving in ports and docks, they can spread to other artificial structures such as local vessels. This process, known as the 'stepping stone' effect, allows invasive species to establish themselves and reproduce, putting pressure on native species and potentially reducing local biodiversity. Over time, these impacts can spread beyond local areas and affect wider regional ecosystems. 

Biofouling also has implications for climate change. When marine organisms accumulate on a ship's hull, the surface becomes rougher, creating greater resistance as the vessel moves through the water. This increased drag means ships require more fuel to operate, leading to higher costs and greater emissions. 

What are LJMU researchers doing to reduce biofouling? 

Much of the LJMU team's research focuses on what we can do to support antifouling i.e. methods to prevent biofouling, and reduce the build-up of algae, barnacles, mussels, microorganisms and other aquatic organisms on surfaces in the water, docks, and boats. 

One way to reduce both the spread of invasive species and the impact of biofouling on ships is through effective biofouling management. The most widely used approach is antifouling coatings, which are applied to ship hulls to prevent marine organisms such as mussels, barnacles and sea squirts from attaching during their early life stages in the plankton. 

However, many conventional antifouling and foul-release coatings contain biocides, often based on substances such as copper or tin, which can have negative effects on marine ecosystems. These coatings are also typically made from polymers, meaning they can contribute microplastics to the marine environment. As a result, truly environmentally friendly antifouling solutions remain limited and are not yet widely adopted across the maritime industry. 

Many lower-impact approaches rely on regular cleaning, and advances in robotic technology now make it possible to clean vessels in the water without the need for expensive dry-docking. 

At LJMU, researchers have been developing an environmentally friendly alternative since 2012 using laser-engineered antifouling surface textures. These bespoke textures have been shown to reduce biofilm formation by up to 97% and can be applied to a range of materials, reducing reliance on both polymers and biocides. While no solution can completely prevent biofouling, these innovations offer a promising way to minimise its effects. 

See it for yourself 

Want to take a closer look? The LJMU team will be at the free Dockwatch event on Wednesday 26 August, 11am to 3pm, Maritime Museum with a live underwater camera. Visitors can take a sneak peek at life below the water in the Royal Albert Dock and set up biofouling experiments using textured surfaces, supported by guidance from the LJMU research team.