The work aims to synthesize the cuprous oxide microcapsule, so as to prepare an antifouling coating for pollution prevention and conduct performance research. The PVP-Cu2O microcapsules were synthesized by sodium sulfite reduction-single coacervation. The structure and coating effect of the microcapsules were verified by SEM and FT-IR. The antifouling coating samples were prepared by using the synthesized microcapsule as the antifouling agent and the PU/EP modified resin as the matrix. The hardness, impact resistance, tensile strength, shear strength, water absorption performance and release properties of these coating samples were tested and characterized, and the effects of the type and amount of the antifouling agent on antifouling coating properties were investigated. Testing antifouling panels in shallow submergence was carried out on the selected excellent formula paint to explore the antifouling performance in the sea. The PVP-Cu2O microcapsules were successfully synthesized in the experiment. Compared with the coating samples with ordinary Cu2O as the antifouling agent, the hardness, impact resistance, tensile strength and shear strength, water absorption and sustained release of the coating samples with PVP- Cu2O microcapsules were greatly improved. When the amount of PVP-Cu2O was increased to 35 phr, the effect of microcapsules on the performance improvement of antifouling coatings was somewhat reduced. Considering the performance of various aspects of the coating samples, the proper amount of PVP-Cu2O was determined to be 15 phr. Testing antifouling panels in shallow submergence showed that the microcapsule coating with a dosage of only 15 phr achieved an antifouling effect substantially equivalent to that of the commercial antifouling coating. Therefore, the PVP-Cu2O microcapsule antifouling coating can play a very positive role in achieving environmental protection, energy saving and long-term effect of antifouling coatings.