more or less anywhere. Further examination showed activity in many similar
compounds. From these findings, the process in Japan has already entered the
commercialization stage.
Most of the energy used on Earth today comes from fossil fuels, and nearly
all of that comes from petroleum. Crude oil refers to petroleum that has not
yet been refined; the number of countries that produce crude oil remains very
limited. Oil tankers are used to transport crude oil from producing to
non-producing countries, and occasionally these thanks will run aground or
collide during the transportation process, resulting in large-scale leakage of
crude oil. Ocean oil spills also frequently occur at petroleum complexes and
oil fields (Harvey et al. 1990). According to the Ministry of Environment, a
total of 1798 ocean pollution incidents occurred in South Korea over the six
years from 2006 to 2011. The amount of oil spilled during this time totaled
4892 kl; if the 12,437 kl leaked in Taean in the Hebei Spirit oil spill of
December 2007 is factored, the total rises to 17,329 kl. In 2011, a total of
Fig. 1.1 M. edulis attachment to a seaweed, b other mussels, and c a stainless steel surface
d Anatomy of M. edulis mussel and byssus structures. Reproduced the figure with permission from
(Silverman and Roberto 2007)
12
1 What Is Marine Biotechnology?
compounds. From these findings, the process in Japan has already entered the
commercialization stage.
Most of the energy used on Earth today comes from fossil fuels, and nearly
all of that comes from petroleum. Crude oil refers to petroleum that has not
yet been refined; the number of countries that produce crude oil remains very
limited. Oil tankers are used to transport crude oil from producing to
non-producing countries, and occasionally these thanks will run aground or
collide during the transportation process, resulting in large-scale leakage of
crude oil. Ocean oil spills also frequently occur at petroleum complexes and
oil fields (Harvey et al. 1990). According to the Ministry of Environment, a
total of 1798 ocean pollution incidents occurred in South Korea over the six
years from 2006 to 2011. The amount of oil spilled during this time totaled
4892 kl; if the 12,437 kl leaked in Taean in the Hebei Spirit oil spill of
December 2007 is factored, the total rises to 17,329 kl. In 2011, a total of
Fig. 1.1 M. edulis attachment to a seaweed, b other mussels, and c a stainless steel surface
d Anatomy of M. edulis mussel and byssus structures. Reproduced the figure with permission from
(Silverman and Roberto 2007)
12
1 What Is Marine Biotechnology?