The present invention describes a composition for stabilizing a paint or paint base composition against viscosity change, gelation and agglomeration during formulation and storage. Illustratively, an antifouling paint or paint base composition is disclosed that contains a hydrolysable acrylate resin such as copper acrylate, zinc acrylate, or silyl acrylate, a metal salt of pyrithione, cuprous oxide, and a primary stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, hydroxypyridine, metal salts of benzoic acid, and hydroxypyridine, with the proviso that said composition is essentially free of 2-hydroxypyridine N-oxide, and is also essentially free of the sodium, zinc and copper salts of 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide.