Marine Ecological Well-Being and the Development of Human Health Through Marine Natural Products and Nutraceuticals

This review describes the oceanic ecological balance between climate change and pollution vs. nutraceuticals and functional food, and explains how species-centric or trait-based approaches are used to assess environmental well-being. It focuses on oceanic-zone ecological habitats from sea foam to the hadopelagic depths. Examples of relevant food types include fish products, oysters, mussels, limpets, pteropods, scallops, squid, fish, eels, crustaceans, microalgae, algae moss, etc., are introduced. Passive and active restoration of marine ecological systems in achieving a balance between marine nutritional and bioactive products—used as antioxidant, anti-obesity, cardio-protective, neuroprotective, anticancer, and anti-diabetic agents, as well as for treating other chronic disease is described. The growing importance of marine pharmacognosy, new economies, and a culture that balances human medical and nutritional needs with improving ecological stability, conservation, and survival of endangered species is highlighted. The article concludes with a structured discussion on marine-derived drugs, nutraceuticals, and ecological marine conservation. The primary threats to environmental health are marine pollution resulting from the irresponsible use and exploitation of Earth’s resources, as well as pollution by heavy metals, radiochemicals, microplastics, and fossil fuel waste.