Regardless of their size, composition or origin, assembled biopolymers form networks that exhibit a unique set of emerging properties that account for phenomena ranging from biopolymer networks in secretory granules and their role in storage and release of hormones [1], to self-assembly of marine biopolymer and their role in carbon cycling in the ocean [2]. Our goal is to use the power of established polymer physics theory to develop new models and better predictive tools in these different fields. In this paper I'll briefly review some highlights of our work on biopolymer self-assembly in the ocean and the significance of the marine gel phase on global carbon cycling.