Octopus　scraps,　as　a　kind　of　marine　waste,　have　drawn　much　attention　due　to　its　biological　values.　Amino　groups　and　carboxyl　groups　of　octopus　scraps　peptides　(OSP)　chelated　with　Zn2+　formed　OSP-Zn　by　Zn-N　and　Zn-O　covalent　bonds.　The　aggregation　state　of　OSP　had　been　changed　and　the　typical　particle　diameter　of　OSP　transformed　from　104.74　nm　to　147.36　nm　after　chelating　with　zinc.　The　chelate　OSP-Zn　showed　notably　antimicrobial　ability　towards　Escherichia　coli　(E.　coli).　Moreover,　the　antibacterial　mechanism　of　OSP-Zn　against　E.　coli　might　be　explained　by　the　pathway　of　damaging　cell　membrane　structure　and　oxidative　stress-mediated　apoptosis.　It　also　suggests　that　OSP-Zn　could　inhibit　the　growth　of　the　dominant　spoilage　bacteria　of　Penaeus　vannamei　and　exhibit　a　good　preservative　effect.　Our　work　illuminates　the　synergic　effect　of　OSP　and　Zn　complexes　for　the　first　time,　supporting　the　potential　application　of　OSP-Zn　chelate　as　a　natural　bacteriostatic　agent　in　the　food　or　pharmaceutical　industry.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd