Marine natural products for biofouling elimination in marine environments

Biofouling is a broad word encompassing marine organisms such as animals, microorganisms, and plants that grow when immersed in both normal and abnormal amounts of saltwater. There are several biofouling species in the water that easily adhere to sea equipment and cause its rapid destruction. The use of antifouling coating or paint can effectively stop marine biofouling. The use of chemical antifouling coatings containing metals such as copper, tin, etc. has been restricted and banned by the International Marine Environment Organization. So, an increasing number of researchers are focusing on eco-friendly antifouling coatings. Within this scope, the use of marine natural compounds with antifouling action has emerged as a significant research area. Marine bioactive compounds are plentiful, inexpensive, efficient, environmentally friendly, long-lasting, and biodegradable, making them ideal for antifouling applications. In this review, we reviewed and discussed the characteristics of biofouling growth and development mechanisms, the sources of marine bioactive compounds with antifouling activity, their chemical structure, and the organisms that they inhibit. This paper fosters marine organisms and their bioactive compounds as potential prospects for future commercial applications, in particular the antifouling activity of marine ecosystems on marine equipment.