Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the reduction of fouling of objects present in marine environments. The methods and compositions include anticoagulants, such as, for example, glycosaminoglycans, coumarin-type molecules, metal chelators, plasminogen activators and platelet inhibitors. The methods include reducing marine fouling, comprising incorporating an anticoagulant compound into a marine coating. In addition, the methods include identifying compounds useful for reducing marine fouling, comprising measuring either blood coagulation or barnacle cement polymerization in the presence and absence of the compound, wherein a reduction in the blood coagulation or the barnacle cement polymerization in the presence of the compound identifies the compound as useful for reducing marine fouling. The coagulation or the polymerization can be measured by a serine protease activity or a transglutaminase activity.