Abstract: An antifouling barrier comprising a silicon bronze alloy, the silicon bronze alloy comprising about 0.5% to about 3.8% silicon (wt/wt alloy) and greater than about 90% copper (wt/wt alloy). In some embodiments, the silicon bronze alloy additionally comprises from about 0.05% to about 1.3% manganese (wt/wt alloy). The antifouling barrier may be a welded wire mesh, screen, chain-link, chain-mail, grid, weave, perforated sheet, or chicken wire. Methods of reducing the growth of an organism on an animal enclosure, comprising contacting at least a portion of the animal enclosure with an antifouling barrier comprising a silicon bronze alloy comprising about 0.5% to about 3.8% silicon (wt/wt alloy) and greater than about 90% copper (wt/wt alloy).