Abstract: The present invention relates to biocatalytic methods, comprising purely enzymatic, mixed enzymatic-fermentative and purely fermentative methods, for the direct single-step conversion of L-fucitol to L-fucose, in order to easily obtain L-fucose at high amounts and levels of purity. Suitable recombinant microorganisms and fungi are further disclosed and also the use thereof in said method for the single-step conversion to L-fucose.