01
Overview
A shallow bay holding one of the Andaman's largest seagrass meadows and a working small-boat fishing community.
A shallow bay where seagrass meadows feed dugongs, turtles and the local fishing economy.
02
Quick Facts
- Category
- Nature
- Location
- East Phuket
- Accessibility
- —
- Opening Hours
- —
- Best Season
- Early-morning low tide between January and April reveals the seagrass and its inhabitants most clearly.
- Recommended Visit Time
- —
- Family Friendly
- —
- Wheelchair Accessible
- —
03
Why This Place Matters
Seagrass meadows lock carbon, shelter endangered species and nurse the fish that feed the island — losing them means losing the system.
04
Biodiversity
- Seagrass
Halophila ovalis, Enhalus acoroides — 7 recorded species
- Marine Life
Dugong, green turtle, pipefish
Recorded species
- Dugong (Dugong dugon)Marine Life
- Green turtleMarine Life
- Halophila ovalisSeagrass
- Enhalus acoroidesSeagrass
- PipefishMarine Life
05
Community
- Uncle SomSmall-boat fisher, 50 yrs on the bay
- Dr. Anchana W.Marine ecologist, PMBC
- Ploy K., age 16Youth Explorer, seagrass cohort
- "Low-tide reading by the bay's small-boat fishers"
- "Lunar calendar fishing windows"
- "Traditional names for each seagrass patch"
Every community tour booking and every citizen-science record funds school cohorts and goes back to small-boat fishing families.
06
Living Timeline
07
Current Status
08
Living Lab
Ao Tang Khen Seagrass Program
Community-led monitoring of one of Phuket's most important seagrass meadows.
Phuket Citizen Science
An island-wide network of residents, students and visitors recording species and pressures.
School Learning Programs
Hands-on field learning that turns students into Phuket's next generation of stewards.
- QSI International SchoolPlace-based learning that turns students into citizen scientists of Phuket.
09
How You Can Help
3 hrs / month
1 hr / week
1 day / term
Half-day field
Workshop
Online + field
Walk on sand or trails, never on the seagrass.
Footsteps shear seagrass rhizomes.
Photograph and submit to iNaturalist.
Your record becomes part of the permanent dataset.
Book with community guides rather than speedboat operators.
Money stays in the village.
Pack out waste; refuse single-use plastic.
10
Related Places
NatureBang Rong Mangroves
A community-managed mangrove forest, paddled by kayak, restored by hand.
CommunityRassada Fish Pier
Where the island's catch comes in at dawn and small-boat fishers share the bay's story.
LearningYouth Lab Phuket
After-school workshops where students learn marine science by becoming citizen scientists.
10.5
Related Knowledge
- Coral reef
- Seagrass
- Dugong (Dugong dugon)
- Halophila ovalis (seagrass)
- QSI International School
- Andaman Discoveries
- Phuket Marine Biological Center
- Dr. Anchana W.
- Dugong (Dugong dugon)
- Green turtle
- Halophila ovalis
- Enhalus acoroides
- Pipefish
11
AI Summary
Ao Tang Khen Bay — A shallow bay holding one of the Andaman's largest seagrass meadows and a working small-boat fishing community. Seagrass meadows lock carbon, shelter endangered species and nurse the fish that feed the island — losing them means losing the system. Seagrass: Halophila ovalis, Enhalus acoroides — 7 recorded species. Marine Life: Dugong, green turtle, pipefish. Every community tour booking and every citizen-science record funds school cohorts and goes back to small-boat fishing families. East coast of Phuket Island, Ko Kaeo sub-district, accessed via Route 4031.. Best time: Early-morning low tide between January and April reveals the seagrass and its inhabitants most clearly.. Responsible practice: Walk on sand or trails, never on the seagrass.; Photograph and submit to iNaturalist.; Book with community guides rather than speedboat operators.. Related: Nature, Seagrass, Marine Life.
- 1. What this is
- Ao Tang Khen Bay — A shallow bay holding one of the Andaman's largest seagrass meadows and a working small-boat fishing community.
- 2. Why it matters
- Seagrass meadows lock carbon, shelter endangered species and nurse the fish that feed the island — losing them means losing the system.
- 3. Biodiversity / culture
- Seagrass: Halophila ovalis, Enhalus acoroides — 7 recorded species. Marine Life: Dugong, green turtle, pipefish.
- 4. Community
- Every community tour booking and every citizen-science record funds school cohorts and goes back to small-boat fishing families.
- 5. Visitor info
- East coast of Phuket Island, Ko Kaeo sub-district, accessed via Route 4031.. Best time: Early-morning low tide between January and April reveals the seagrass and its inhabitants most clearly..
- 6. Sustainability
- Responsible practice: Walk on sand or trails, never on the seagrass.; Photograph and submit to iNaturalist.; Book with community guides rather than speedboat operators..
- 7. Related topics
- Nature · Seagrass · Marine Life
135 words · structured for humans and AI search engines.
14
Last Updated
1 November 2026 · We update this page as new data arrives — for transparency.
15
Future Vision
The community is co-defining the vision.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- It's on the east coast of Phuket Island, in Ko Kaeo sub-district, about 20 minutes by car from Phuket Town.