This review sought to highlight the importance of natural products versus synthetic products, as bioactive molecules, towards the development of better management practices in aquaculture. The nature, structure, activity, and applications of these naturally-occurring high value-added compounds are described, as well as the methodology used for their study. Examples include the well-known rotenone, eugenol, forskolin, isatin, malyngamide, chlorodesmine, pachydictyol, fimbrolide, and other potentially active molecules in aquaculture.

Screening of biomass of a new marine-derived strain of Penicillium roqueforti, as produced by liquid-state fermentation, led to the identification of several volatile organic compounds active in the fatty acid pathway as well as fragments produced by their catabolism, terpenoids, and metabolites from the shikimic acid pathway. In addition, five non-volatile organic compounds, triolein, ergosterol peroxide, 9(11)-dehydroergosterol peroxide, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and d-mannitol, were isolated and identified by spectroscopy. The results showed that this fungal strain did not produce any mycotoxin in the culture conditions applied, and thus is useful for industrial applications, where high value-added biomolecules are generated.