Abstract
Thailand's diverse mangrove ecosystems, spanning from the sand mangroves of the Surin Islands to the rock and mud mangroves of Phuket, play a crucial role in local marine ecology. These systems serve as vital fish nurseries and possess significant carbon storage capacity, making them essential in the fight against climate change. The Surin Islands' mangroves, located offshore in the Andaman Sea, are particularly noteworthy as home to the Moken people and their unique ecological knowledge. However, these vital ecosystems face mounting threats. In Surin, from tourist pressures of the blue economy as well as fish and reef die offs from rising ocean temperatures. In Phuket mangrove ecology is affected by commercial shrimp farming, habitat destruction and over fishing, coastal urban development, and increasing marine temperatures.
In response to these challenges, we propose an immersive audio-visual installation for the Phuket Biennale 2025-2026. This work will document and look at and listen to the healthy mangrove systems of the Surin Islands, recovering reefs from bleaching, whilst considering ethics of the blue-economy, and connect this with considerations about the threatened ecosystems of Phuket.
The audio component, led by Dr. Maree Sheehan, will utilize hydrophone recordings to capture the subtle sounds of mangrove root systems and their inhabitants, alongside sonic resonances from mangrove trunks above the waterline. These natural soundscapes will be woven with recordings of industrial sonic pollution from shipping and boat traffic, creating a compelling narrative about human impact on these environments. The resulting audio-scape will provide audiences with an unprecedented auditory perspective on mangrove ecology. The importance of demonstrating sound pollution through this audio component lies in its ability to reveal the profound impact of human activities on the natural soundscape of Thailand mangrove ecosystems. By upholding the voice of the root systems, against a backdrop of sound pollution, we hope to raise awareness. This audio-scape provides an unprecedented auditory perspective on mangrove ecology, allowing audiences to experience firsthand the contrast between the natural, thriving sounds of these ecosystems and the disruptive, harmful effects of industrial noise pollution. By showcasing this issue, the installation raises awareness of the need for stronger protections against noise pollution and its long-term effects on marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.