Colonization (marine) refers to the process by which marine organisms, such as bacteria, algae, barnacles, and mussels, settle and grow on submerged man-made structures. These structures can include undersea cables, pipelines, ship hulls, and offshore platforms. Colonization can lead to biofouling, which may cause operational issues, increased maintenance costs, and potential cybersecurity risks if organisms interfere with cable integrity or monitoring systems. Understanding colonization is important for the protection and maintenance of critical underwater infrastructure, as well as for developing effective antifouling strategies.