Erosion poses significant threats to infrastructures and ecosystems, exacerbated by climate change-driven sea-level rise and intensified wave actions. Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution for erosion mitigation. This review synthesizes recent advancements in optimizing biomineralization efficiency, multi-scale erosion control, and field-scale MICP implementations in marine dynamic conditions. Key findings include the following: (1) Kinetic analysis of Ca²⁺ conversion confirmed complete ion utilization within 24 h under optimized PA concentration (3%), resulting in a compressive strength of 2.76 MPa after five treatment cycles in ISO-standard sand. (2) Field validations in Ahoskie and Sanya demonstrated the efficacy of MICP in coastal erosion control through tailored delivery systems and environmental adaptations. Sanya’s studies highlighted seawater-compatible MICP solutions, achieving maximum 1743 kPa penetration resistance in the atmospheric zone and layered “M-shaped” CaCO₃ precipitation in tidal regions. (3) Experimental studies revealed that MICP treatments (2–4 cycles) reduced maximum scour depth by 84–100% under unidirectional currents (0.3 m/s) with the maximum surface CaCO₃ content reaching 3.8%. (4) Numerical simulations revealed MICP enhanced seabed stability by increasing vertical effective stress and reducing pore pressure. Comparative analysis demonstrates that while the destabilization depth of untreated seabed exhibits a linear correlation with wave height increments, MICP-treated seabed formations maintain exceptional stability through cohesion-enhancing properties, even when subjected to progressively intensified wave forces. This review supports the use of biomineralization as a sustainable alternative for shoreline protection, seabed stabilization, and offshore foundation integrity.

Erosion pose significant threats to infrastructures and ecosystems, exacerbated by climate change driven sea-level rise and intensified wave actions. Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution for erosion mitigation. This review synthesizes recent advancements in optimizing biomineralization efficiency, multi-scale erosion control, and field-scale MICP implementations. Key findings include: (1) Kinetic analysis of Ca2+ conversion confirmed complete ion utilization within 24 hours under optimized PA concentration (3%), resulting in a compressive strength of 2.76 MPa after five treatment cycles. (2) The erosion resistance of coastal soil was investigated through erosion function apparatus tests, model tests and field applications. Field validations in Ahoskie and Sanya demonstrated the efficacy of MICP in coastal erosion control through tailored delivery systems and environmental adaptations. (3) MICP coupled with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was shown to effectively mitigate local scour around monopile. Experimental studies revealed that MICP treatments (2-4 cycles) reduced maximum scour depth by 84-100% under unidirectional currents. MICP coupled with PVA outperforms conventional methods. (4) Numerical simulations revealed MICP enhanced seabed stability by increasing vertical effective stress and reducing pore pressure. Comparative analysis demonstrates that while the destabilization depth of untreated seabed sediments exhibits a linear correlation with wave height increments, MICP-treated seabed formations maintain exceptional stability through cohesion-enhancing properties, even when subjected to progressively intensified wave forces. This work establishes a foundational framework for advancing biomineralization technologies in erosion control, with significant implications for developing sustainable, nature-based solutions in ocean geotechnical engineering.