Tourapi, ChristianaChristoforou, EleniGaudêncio, Susana P.Vasquez, Marlen I.2024-10-292024-10-292024-09-201660-3397PURE: 101698163PURE UUID: c878bb8f-a4bd-4716-b3f2-5f436a90af32Scopus: 85205151747PubMed: 39330308PubMedCentral: PMC11433314WOS: 001322992500001http://hdl.handle.net/10362/174297Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. This publication is based upon work from COST Action CA18238 (Ocean4Biotech), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) programme. S.P.G. C.T. for the VM grant awarded by CA18238.The alarming pace of species extinction severely threatens terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, undermining the crucial ecological services vital for environmental sustainability and human well-being. Anthropogenic activities, such as urbanization, agriculture, industrialization, and those inducing climate change, intensify these risks, further imperiling biodiversity. Of particular importance are aquatic organisms, pivotal in biodiscovery and biotechnology. They contribute significantly to natural product chemistry, drug development, and various biotechnological applications. To safeguard these invaluable resources, establishing and maintaining aquatic biomaterial repositories (ABRs) is imperative. This review explores the complex landscape of ABRs, emphasizing the need for standardized procedures from collection to distribution. It identifies key legislative and regulatory frameworks, such as the Nagoya Protocol and EU directives, essential for ensuring responsible and equitable biorepository operations. Drawing on extensive literature and database searches, this study compiles existing recommendations and practices into a cohesive framework with which to guide the establishment and sustainable management of ABRs. Through collaborative efforts and adherence to best practices, ABRs can play a transformative role in the future of marine biotechnology and environmental conservation.201218092engbiobanksbioprospectionbiorepositoriesblue biotechnologymarine bioresourcesmarine natural productsPharmaceutical ScienceDrug DiscoveryPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous)SDG 2 - Zero HungerSDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and InfrastructureSDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesSDG 13 - Climate ActionSDG 14 - Life Below WaterSDG 15 - Life on Landreview10.3390/md22090427https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85205151747