NOVELTY - Protecting (M1) a polymer surface against fouling involves: embedding in the polymer surface particles having antifouling properties, where the particles are embedded in the polymer surface by a spray mechanism in which the particles are accelerated and sprayed onto the polymer surface with a suitable velocity such that the particles become embedded in the polymer surface, where the particles are embedded in the polymer surface without an adhesive or binder and the particles do not form a continuous layer on the polymer surface. The polymer has an elastic modulus of not greater than 3000 MPa.    USE - For protecting a polymer surface against fouling; in a polymer composite having antifouling functionality (all claimed); for protecting a polymer surface against fouling in aqueous environments such as marine environments; for reducing or preventing biofouling that is accumulation of unwanted biological organisms on a surface as a result of the surface being exposed to some form of aqueous environment including fresh salt water or water that has condensed on a surface; in boat hulls and boat components that contact a marine environment; in seismic streamers and seismic acquisition equipment, including a seismic streamer cable, where a cable houses acoustic transducers, sensors or electrical conduit optionally include a gel or liquid, and has an outer skin layer consisting preferably of a polyurethane-based polymer; in auxiliary equipment that forms part of the seismic streamer or streamer array, including birds and bird wings where these are stabilizing devices, weights, couplers used for joining sections of streamer cables together, and flexible sections; in aquaculture applications including sea cage netting and netpens; in mussel longlines and flotation buoys, oyster cages, scallop cages, aerator blades, aerator floats, boat moorings buoys, ropes and mussel spat collecting ropes; in wave power buoys and wave energy capture floats and associated equipment; in tidal power equipment; in shipping sea chests; in fresh water pipelines (to prevent biofilm formation or bryozoan accumulation); in sea water inlet pipelines; in floating marina pontoons; in inlet pipe casing (external or internal); in water pipe linings (internal and/or external) to prevent fouling; in casing for oil rig, ocean platforms to prevent fouling; for enhancing health or hygiene e.g. for treating the internal surfaces of air conditioning units to prevent the accumulation and growth of potentially harmful microorganisms such as the bacterium Legionella that is responsible for Legionnaires disease.    ADVANTAGE - The particles provide antifouling properties by a chemical release mechanism. The particles provide anti-biofouling properties to the polymer surface. The particles are embedded in the polymer surface without an adhesive or binder and the particles do not form a continuous layer on the polymer surface. The method reduces or avoids biofouling (particularly marine biofouling) of a polymer surface. The method avoids the need to form a continuous antifouling layer which avoids delamination issues otherwise encountered with cladding/sheath technology; provides effective life of the functionalized surface which is increased because the active particles are embedded in a surface and thus protected from attrition or erosion from the surface layer. The effective life of the functionalized surface is increased by controlling the distribution, availability and position of the active particles. The method avoids the continuous layers that restrict the range of movement of the underlying substrate. The use of particles of suitably active material are likely to be less expensive than providing a continuous layer due to the reduced volume of active material required to protect the same surface area. The particles are typically embedded in the polymer surface by spraying. This allows rapid application and thus high throughput, and also ready application to surfaces with complex shapes/profiles. Combinations of particle and polymer substrate, is selected without concern for normal continuous coating requirements with respect to particle/substrate adhesion and particle/particle cohesion.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a polymer surface comprising embedded particles having antifouling properties, when produced by the method (M1);    (2) a polymer composite (c1) having antifouling properties, comprising particles having antifouling properties embedded in a polymer surface, where the particles do not form a continuous layer on the polymer surface, and where a portion of the particles are embedded below the surface of the polymer and in direct communication with the surface of the polymer or the particles are embedded in craters or cavities in the polymer that are formed by impact of particles on the polymer surface;    (3) a polymer composite (c2) having a functionalized surface property, comprising particles having a functional property embedded in a polymer surface, where the particles do not form a continuous layer on the polymer surface, and where a portion of the particles are embedded below the surface of the polymer and in direct communication with the surface of the polymer or the particles are embedded in craters or cavities in the polymer that are formed by impact of particles on the polymer surface.