Natural processes to control microbial fouling are optimized and are, by deftition, environmentally compatible. These natural strategies are comprised of systems to recognize the problem, remedy it, and then regulate the remedy. Successful industrial programs are often inadvertent imitations of natural microbial control strategies. Several examples of natural microbial control programs are given and compared to recent industrial innovations. A new stabilized liquid bromine product is discussed and compared to natural microbial fouling control agents; new performance data for stabilized liquid bromine are given. The opportunity for innovation in microbial fouling control is to observe how it is done in nature and imitate. Keywords: Microbial fouling, antimicrobials, biocides, hypobromous acid, stabilized liquid bromine