Innovative processes and products involving marine organisms in South Africa

Abstract

The SEAChange programme, instituted in 2007 under the auspices of the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR), included four interdependent research themes, one of which was Marine Biotechnology. Marine biotechnology is a discipline that involves both basic and applied research, and is aimed at the commercial exploitation of marine organisms. This paper reviews the progress made in three key areas of the SEAChange programme over the first five years, namely marine aquaculture, omics of marine organisms and marine bioprospecting, and discusses these accomplishments in context to marine biotechnology internationally.

Keywords: marine aquaculture, marine bioprospecting, marine biotechnology, marine invertebrates, marine microorganisms, omics, seaweeds

African Journal of Marine Science 2013, 35(3): 449–464