Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 3 hrs ago
Inditex to fund tidal flat restoration in South Korea
Zara owner Inditex will provide €3 million to support restoration work in Garorim Bay, South Korea.
The funding will run from November 2026 to November 2029 and will be delivered with WWF South Korea and South Chungcheong Province.
The project will remove 40 hectares of abandoned aquaculture facilities from the bay in stages, starting in 2027.
Old facilities, fishing gear and discarded shells have disrupted water flow and damaged the local environment.
The bay is an important habitat for endangered spotted seals and other marine life, and it is South Korea’s first and largest marine protected area.
After the removals, the partners plan to create about 10 hectares of native salt-marsh plant habitat to support biodiversity and increase coastal carbon storage.
The restoration is planned over three years, with WWF South Korea spending €1 million each year; Inditex says it will continue seeking new environmental projects.
Inditex will provide €3 million to support tidal flat restoration in South Korea’s Garorim Bay.
The funding will run from November 2026 to November 2029 under an agreement with WWF-Korea and South Chungcheong Province.
The partners plan to remove 40 hectares of long-abandoned aquaculture facilities from the bay over three years starting in 2027.
They also plan to create about 10 hectares of native salt-tolerant plant habitat to support coastal biodiversity and carbon storage.
- Who
- Inditex, WWF-Korea and South Chungcheong Province.
- What
- Inditex will fund a project to restore Garorim Bay’s tidal flats and improve its ecosystem.
- When
- The funding runs from November 2026 to November 2029. Facility removal is planned to start in 2027 and take three years.
- Where
- Garorim Bay, Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea.
- Why
- Abandoned aquaculture facilities and fishing gear have affected water circulation and the local environment; the project aims to restore habitats and conserve biodiversity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Inditex CEO Oscar Garcia Maceiras and WWF-Korea signed an agreement for the Garorim Bay project.
Inditex’s three-year funding period is scheduled to begin.
WWF-Korea and South Chungcheong Province plan to begin phased removal of abandoned aquaculture facilities.
Inditex’s funding period is scheduled to end.
- Funding
- €3 million over three years
- Project site
- Garorim Bay, Taean County, South Chungcheong Province
- Facilities to remove
- 40 hectares of abandoned aquaculture facilities
- Planned habitat
- About 10 hectares of native salt-tolerant plants
What people are saying
Inditex is not a company that is satisfied with financial performance alone.
Environmental projects require long-term investment, which is why we decided to invest over three years.
Garorim Bay is home to the spotted seal, designated a Class I endangered wild animal, and has rich marine biodiversity, so its conservation value is very high.
The partnership with Inditex is meaningful because it starts with a view of at least three years.