Using biopolymer made of castor extract mixed with sand to produce an adhesive substrate, seaweed habitats have been successfully restored on the shores of Dadohaehaesang National Park in the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Coastal ecosystems in RoK have been experiencing many changes, including the decline of seaweed communities. To help address these concerns, the Korea National Park Service (KNPS) launched a pilot project in Namdong-ri, Jindo-gun in 2017.

The project sought to create nurturing habitats in which seaweed could become naturally established. To do this, it used a biopolymer made of castor extract, and mixed this with sand to produce an adhesive substrate. This was then placed on areas of bare rock in the inter-tidal zone. The existing seaweed habitats within the intertidal area were maintained as they were; the adhesive substrate was used only in empty spaces where seaweed had not colonised.