Marine bioprospecting is the developing and targeted, systematic search for components, bioactive compounds and genetic products in marine organisms with the intent of producing these commercially for the benefit of society. The marine organisms collected for analysis include microorganisms, algae, plants and animals, they may be collected from the marine environment, petroleum reservoirs. Areas of application for products from bioprospecting range from petroleum and energy exploitation, and processing of biomass to the development of new pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals or drugs in food and feed.