Invasion, Entanglement, and Provocative Visibility. The turbulent Relationship between Humans and Algae in the overheating Venice Lagoon

This thesis project investigates the diverse forms of human-algal interspecies encounters in the Venice Lagoon, by means of a multimodal multispecies ethnography. Applying a more-than-human focus, the ethnographical interest is directed to both the human perspective, and the attempt to capture an algal perspective on the recent developments in the lagoon as well. In the amphibious nature-culture environment of the Venice Lagoon, algae are an integral part of the ecosystem, either purposefully or unknowingly encountered daily in the cities and the shallow areas of the lagoon. Throughout the past 50 years, humans have greatly influenced the algal activity, whether by leading excess nutrients into the water causing algae blooms, or by unconsciously importing multiple fast-spreading species of alien macroalgae into the lagoon. These events render both parties deeply entwined, with complex agency affecting the other. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with a variety of local residents ranging from chefs, artists, gondoliers, rowers, fishmongers, marine biologists, and more, aim to address the questions of how Venetians think with and about algae, and how multispecies worlding between humans and algae looks like in this heavily anthropogenically impacted environment. In this regard, the attention lies not solely on the native and non-native algae decorating the canals and shallow waters, but also on imported types of algae served in restaurants, used for art practices like paper marbling, or turned into wearable fabric. Linked to anthropogenic activity, the increased algal presence in the Lagoon’s urban centers simultaneously provokes a sense of grief for the lost lagoon of the past, and presents an opportunity to combat ignorance and raise awareness for the Lagoon’s dangerously overheating state.