These are the first and second in a series of sculptures to be submerged underwater in the Port Barton Marine Protected Area (MPA) Palawan, Philippines, as a multi purpose art/science/marine conservation/eco tourism project.
Philippines is in the apex of the Coral Triangle. Anarea with the largest marine biodiversity in the world, it has more species living in this area than can be found anywhere else on Earth(Garces, et-al., 2013).
This makes Palawan an ideal location for a sustainable nature based marine tourism industry that provides livelihoods to local communities whilst at the same time the opportunity for community based stewardship of local marine ecosystems.
Submerged sculptures will be part of the base of several mooring buoys in the areas of Port Barton MPA which has been negatively impacted by an under resourced MPA and anchor drops from marine tourism.
Port Barton, as with all of Palawan, is following the WWF recommendation to support the development of Marine based eco tourism as an alternative income to fishing to provide sustainable solutions to marine conservation.
Installing and using mooring buoys within the MPA is an essential part of protecting the marine ecosystems and creating a sustainable marine tourism industry.
The sculpture will also create new substrate for coral growth, building new habitat for marine eco systems, in an area of recognised significance and degradation.
Over time the sculpture will develop into a living sculpture, a creative solution withinnovative and sustainable action.
Local coral growth and artificial reefs experts, South Sea Rehab, will help us with planting coral onto the substrate when the conditions are optimum for coral health.
Thanks to:
Sculpt the Future foundation
The Arts Council
The Marine Foundation
WWF Philippines
Big Blue Network
The Reef World Foundation
Palawan Visual Artists
Permissions and support from Ricky de Jesus, Capitan of Port Barton Barangay
On going support from San Vicente/Port Barton Coastguard,
San Vicente/Port Barton Tourism Dept,
Port Barton Boatmen Association and all its members,
San Vicente Marines,
Ricky’s Easy diver team for all their collective superhero abilities!
Located at Inaladelan (German Island) and Riddle point (Marine Sanctuary) Albagen Island.
Philippines is in the apex of the Coral Triangle. Anarea with the largest marine biodiversity in the world, it has more species living in this area than can be found anywhere else on Earth(Garces, et-al., 2013).
This makes Palawan an ideal location for a sustainable nature based marine tourism industry that provides livelihoods to local communities whilst at the same time the opportunity for community based stewardship of local marine ecosystems.
Submerged sculptures will be part of the base of several mooring buoys in the areas of Port Barton MPA which has been negatively impacted by an under resourced MPA and anchor drops from marine tourism.
Port Barton, as with all of Palawan, is following the WWF recommendation to support the development of Marine based eco tourism as an alternative income to fishing to provide sustainable solutions to marine conservation.
Installing and using mooring buoys within the MPA is an essential part of protecting the marine ecosystems and creating a sustainable marine tourism industry.
The sculpture will also create new substrate for coral growth, building new habitat for marine eco systems, in an area of recognised significance and degradation.
Over time the sculpture will develop into a living sculpture, a creative solution withinnovative and sustainable action.
Local coral growth and artificial reefs experts, South Sea Rehab, will help us with planting coral onto the substrate when the conditions are optimum for coral health.
Thanks to:
Sculpt the Future foundation
The Arts Council
The Marine Foundation
WWF Philippines
Big Blue Network
The Reef World Foundation
Palawan Visual Artists
Permissions and support from Ricky de Jesus, Capitan of Port Barton Barangay
On going support from San Vicente/Port Barton Coastguard,
San Vicente/Port Barton Tourism Dept,
Port Barton Boatmen Association and all its members,
San Vicente Marines,
Ricky’s Easy diver team for all their collective superhero abilities!
Located at Inaladelan (German Island) and Riddle point (Marine Sanctuary) Albagen Island.