Some time ago I posted a topic relating to anodes and made mention of the fact that I was getting a significantly increased amount of marine growth in the area surrounding the anode. I searched for but could not find the original thread but having just had my yacht out of the water again over the weekend I took the opportunity to snap a pic or two of the situation before we cleaned it all off again. The growth does not occur on the other side of the hull away from the anode.

The pictures below are after a little over 12 months with the hull having had a rub down a couple of months ago that also involved a bit of scraping at the growth around the anode.

My questions are as follows;

Can anybody explain why this occurs? I am guessing it is something about what the anode gives off as it is dissolving that promotes the growth - but what exactly?

Any ideas on how to prevent this happening?

Where all the growth occurs the process of cleaning it off ready for new antifouling leaves the surface underneath very rough (which I suspect makes future growth more likely). as far as I can tell this rough surface is only as deep as various layers of antifouling. What would be the best way to approach the smoothing out of this surface? A good sanding with some course wet n dry or something with a bit more grunt?