Marine Biomass

Marine biomass portrays a very crucial role in national development planning, scientific studies of ecosystem productivity. In this chapter on marine biomass and its types, we discuss various aspects which embrace biological productivity of the ocean, distribution of biomass on earth, pyramid of biomass in marine ecosystem, composition of marine biomass, and factors influencing biomass and bioenergy from ocean. Marine ecosystems have been gradually transformed and modified by climate- and human-induced stressors that have caused radical changes in the ocean biomass. Marine biomass components like microalgae and macroalgae have potential worldwide applications in biofuel production, as biofertilizer and bioplastics and as animal food. The chapter includes various sources of marine biomass energy and their cultivation and the harvesting methods. The potential usage of marine biomass as energy source is significant as it is a clean and effective source which is underutilized yet.