Posidonia Soundscapes

Bridging Electronic Music and Marine Conservation
An initiative by MusicForTheSea.org in collaboration with INMAR University of Cadiz 

About Music For The Sea

Music For The Sea is an Ibiza-based non-profit organization dedicated to uniting the international electronic music community with artist collectives, scientific experts, and forward-thinking creatives to address the urgent need for ocean protection in the face of climate change. By leveraging the universal language of music, the organization fosters a collective consciousness and promotes positive action towards marine conservation and sustainability on a global scale.

Listening as an Act of Conservation

Posidonia Soundscapes is a transdisciplinary project that integrates marine science, immersive sound, and community engagement to reconnect individuals with the underwater world. Rooted in Ibiza and aligned with the principles of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the initiative centers on Posidonia oceanica—a millenary seagrass species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, vital for ecological balance and climate regulation.

By capturing and artistically interpreting the hidden soundscape of these underwater meadows, the project aims to give voice to the ocean and cultivate a renewed culture of care—a process we call Re-Oceaning.

Understanding Posidonia oceanica

Posidonia oceanica, commonly known as Neptune grass, forms vast underwater meadows that play a crucial ecological role:

• Biodiversity Hotspots: These meadows provide habitat and nursery grounds for hundreds of marine species.

• Carbon Sequestration: Among the most efficient carbon sinks on the planet, they significantly mitigate climate change.

• Coastal Protection: Their root systems stabilize seabeds and reduce shoreline erosion.

• Water Clarity: They filter sediment and improve overall water quality.

The meadows surrounding Ibiza and Formentera are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet they face increasing threats from pollution, boat anchoring, and warming seas—necessitating urgent conservation action.

What We Do

Through field recordings, acoustic research, and collaborative sound works, Posidonia Soundscapes explores the ocean’s sonic language, inviting listeners to experience the sea not only as a scientific entity but as a living, breathing presence.

At the heart of our work is Re-Oceaning — a cultural and ecological practice of reconnecting with the sea through listening, creativity, and care.

• Conduct Underwater Acoustic Research
  In partnership with INMAR – University of Cádiz’s Institute of Marine Research, we deploy hydrophones to record the acoustic life of Posidonia oceanica habitats. These soundscapes allow us to:

  • Monitor biodiversity through fish and invertebrate vocalizations

  • Study the impact of anthropogenic (human-generated) noise such as ship traffic and motorized vessels

  • Assess long-term ecological health and seasonal changes
    This data also serves as a foundation for sonic compositions and public education.

• Support Marine Habitat Restoration
  With Vellmarí Association, we contribute to replanting and restoring Posidonia meadows using techniques developed through decades of local marine research.

• Host Artist Residencies and Create Music-Based Works
  Through our sound lab Wider Sounds in Ibiza, we host sound-based artist residencies where musicians collaborate with scientists to co-create works that transform environmental data into musical experiences.

• Develop Immersive Music Tools and Experiences

  • Eco-Conscious Music Albums: We release curated compilations featuring ambient and electronic artists, including contributors from MUTEK, recorded using ocean fieldwork.

  • Immersive Sound Journeys: Events like Ocean Womb offer embodied listening spaces to reconnect with the sea.

  • Music Technology Tools: We are designing platforms that translate hydrophone recordings into accessible instruments and educational tools.

• Promote Citizen Science and Ocean Literacy
  In collaboration with TrueWorld.org, Ocean World of Sounds, and Tursiops Association, we engage the public in:

  • Hydrophone field sessions aboard boats and along the coast

  • Soundwalks and listening workshops with youth and visitors

  • Storytelling that bridges local knowledge with scientific insight

• Engage in Emission-Free Research Expeditions
  Our hydrophone expeditions are conducted using Galaxie, a fully zero-emission solar-powered boat developed by TrueWorld in partnership with Love The Mediterranean. This vessel allows us to access sensitive marine zones without disturbing their acoustic environments.

• Broadcast Marine Soundscapes
  We are launching Blue Resonance, a radio series in collaboration with OpenLab.fm, featuring underwater recordings, artist reflections, and marine science—creating a global platform for deep listening and education.

Why It Matters

The Mediterranean Sea is warming 20% faster than the global average. Posidonia oceanica is not only one of its last natural buffers against climate change—it is also a living archive of centuries of marine life.

At the same time, human-generated noise is now recognized as a significant form of pollution in marine ecosystems, disrupting animal communication, migration, and reproduction.

Posidonia Soundscapes responds to these challenges by blending rigorous scientific data with sonic storytelling—activating empathy, shifting public perception, and promoting conservation.

This work supports the goals of the UN Ocean Decade, advancing ecosystem restoration, inclusive education, and cultural innovation through the power of sound.

Your Donation Helps Us:

• Capture, archive, and share the soundscape of Posidonia meadows

• Conduct underwater acoustic research with INMAR and hydrophone arrays

• Monitor marine biodiversity and human acoustic impact

• Develop interactive music tools that translate hydrophone data into education and performance

• Host sound artist residencies in Ibiza and release ocean-inspired albums

• Organize immersive events and listening journeys like Ocean Womb

• Run citizen science workshops with local youth, tourists, and communities

• Restore endangered Posidonia meadows in partnership with Vellmarí

• Navigate sustainably with Galaxie, TrueWorld’s zero-emission boat

• Broadcast ocean stories and marine knowledge via Blue Resonance

Re-Oceaning Is Listening

Re-Oceaning is not just restoration—it is reconnection.
A collective process of remembering our place in the web of life, listening to the Ocean not as a resource, but as a relative.
Through Posidonia Soundscapes, we invite people everywhere to listen more deeply, act more responsibly, and protect the Ocean’s voice for future generations.

Discover more at:
👉 musicforthesea.org/posidonia-soundscapes