"Growing Carbon in the Sea"... The 'Seaweed Revolution' Begins Offshore Wando

Korea-U.S. Joint Marine Macroalgae Biomass Production System Pilot Project Set to Launch

Wando County in South Jeolla Province announced on January 9 that it will officially launch the "Korea-U.S. Joint Marine Macroalgae Biomass Production System Technology Development Pilot Project" to respond to climate change and foster a sustainable seaweed industry.

Marine macroalgae biomass refers to seaweed organisms and organic resources that store solar energy in organic form through photosynthesis in the ocean. This project is a large-scale international research initiative jointly promoted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under the U.S. Department of Energy, running for five years from 2025 to 2029.

The project aims to develop and demonstrate core technologies for offshore mass cultivation of seaweed and the utilization of blue carbon and biomass, thereby establishing a foundation for blue carbon certification and advancing and automating aquaculture technology.

The project is led by the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST) and coordinated by the Sungkyunkwan University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation. Over 300 researchers from 29 domestic and international institutions, 12 universities, 5 research institutes, and 12 companies are participating.

The research team analyzed factors such as water temperature and nutrient distribution in offshore areas deeper than 35 meters, excluding protected fishing zones, environmental, port, and military areas, and designated the southeastern waters off Cheongsan-myeon, Wando County, as the offshore mass seaweed cultivation test site.

Wando County, the largest seaweed production area in Korea, has been evaluated as the optimal project site due to its vast offshore area, stable marine conditions, and accumulated aquaculture expertise.

Accordingly, on January 6, an agreement was signed at Seoul Square between the Seaweed Biomass Production Research Group and Wando County for the establishment and operation of an offshore aquaculture testbed and for technological cooperation and exchange. The county has begun operating the pilot project, including the design and construction of offshore aquaculture structures, and plans to gradually demonstrate stable offshore seaweed cultivation technology.

Through this project, the county expects to verify the potential for expanding coastal seaweed aquaculture into offshore areas in response to climate change and to lay the foundation for industrial expansion of the seaweed industry.

In addition, the data and technologies accumulated through the project will be used as basic resources for carbon credit initiatives and the promotion of the "Wando-style Ocean Pension."

Governor Shin Woochul stated, "It is highly significant that Wando County is participating as a hub for this international joint research project," adding, "If large-scale seaweed cultivation becomes possible, we will be able to expand its applications to bio-materials, cosmetic ingredients, blue carbon, and more, thereby creating new economic value."