Recent trends in bioremediation and bioaugmentation strategies for mitigation of marine based pollutants: current perspectives and future outlook

Marine pollution from anthropogenic activities poses a severe threat to aquatic environments globally. Contaminants such as microplastics, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and pesticides pervade coastal and ocean waters, causing significant harm to marine life and ecosystems. To address this, biological approaches present sustainable remediation alternatives. This review systematically evaluates recent advancements in bioaugmentation strategies for mitigating marine pollution. We begin by discussing key pollutant types, their sources, and their impacts. The review then explores various biological techniques, including microbial degradation, plant-assisted methods, and nano-enabled approaches. Significant advancements in predictive modeling, genetic engineering, and 'omics tools are also examined. Our comprehensive literature analysis (2010–2024) highlights progress in several areas: the optimization of tailored microbial consortia, development of pollution sensors, and integration of nanotechnologies. Notable achievements include the enhanced functional range and resilience of genetically engineered agents and the discovery of novel degraders through 'omics tools. Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Knowledge gaps exist regarding the interactions between diverse marine microbes, and scaling bioaugmentation to address complex pollutant mixtures poses ongoing difficulties. Addressing these challenges requires sustained efforts across scientific, policy, and social domains to fully realize the potential of bioaugmentation for ocean protection.