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Millimeter-sized spherical ion-sieve foams (SIFs) were prepared from spinel lithium manganese oxide (LMO) via a combined process of foaming, drop-in-oil, and agar gelation to recover the lithium from natural seawater. The spinel structure of the fabricated SIFs was induced by H⁺–Li⁺ ion exchange after acid treatment, and the SIFs were found to exhibit hierarchical trimodal pore structure. Small and large bimodal mesopores were formed from the acid treatment-induced agar removal, and macropores from the bubble-template. Increasing agar content during the fabrication process led to an increase in the specific surface area and mesopore volume of the SIFs, but a decrease in the macropore volume. The amount of lithium adsorption in the LiOH solution was significantly decreased with increasing agar content during the fabrication process, probably because the SIFs fabricated with lower agar content …