In 2018, on the seabed off Koh Tao, a Thai island in the Gulf of Thailand, an unusual structure appeared. It was a sculpture of Mazu, weighing 1,800 kilograms, a Chinese sea goddess associated with protection at sea. The statue was installed as the centrepiece of an artificial reef. About 36 smaller pyramid-shaped structures were placed underwater, along the sculpture, carrying thousands of coral transplants. The aim was to provide additional hard surfaces for coral growth and create a habitat that marine organisms could use. The World Economic Forum reported in June 2020 that Global Coralition, working with conservation group Eco Koh Tao, had built the sculpture in 2018. The organisation’s page also says that Mazu was deployed in 2018.
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