Marine Citizen Science

Why not get involved in Marine Citizen Science?

Marine citizen science, involves the participation of non-professional scientists in marine research and conservation efforts. It allows individuals to contribute to scientific knowledge and environmental stewardship by engaging in various activities related to the ocean. Here are some key aspects:
Activities Involved:

Data Collection: Volunteers help collect data on marine species, water quality, and other environmental parameters.
Monitoring: Participants monitor marine ecosystems, track changes, and report observations.
Species Identification: Citizen scientists identify and document marine species, including tracking the presence of invasive species.
Beach Cleanups: Organized efforts to remove litter and debris from coastal areas.
Public Awareness: Educating the public about marine conservation and the importance of protecting ocean health.

Benefits:

Enhanced Research: Citizen science projects can cover large geographic areas and time scales, providing valuable data for scientific research.
Community Engagement: Involving the public fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards marine conservation.
Policy Influence: Data collected by citizen scientists can inform policy decisions and conservation strategies.

Examples:

Redmap: A project where citizen scientists report sightings of marine species outside their usual range.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Eye on the Reef: A program that allows divers and snorkelers to contribute to the monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef.

Marine science citizenship empowers individuals to make a positive impact on ocean health and contributes to the broader understanding of marine ecosystems

CoastSnap (Australia)
If you are in NSW visit a CoastSnap station to measure the shoreline and amount of sand on the beach by taking a photo with your smartphone and sharing it through our app or on social media. Your snap will add to a community database that we use to map shoreline change and learn how different beaches respond to changing ocean conditions.

Eye on the Reef (Australia)
Eye on the Reef is a monitoring program that enables anyone who visits the Great Barrier Reef to collect valuable information on its health. The program has a range of reporting tools designed to suit people with different skills and experience. This means people from all walks of life can report their Reef sightings and observations to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

EyeonWater (Australia)
The EyeOnWater concept consists of an app and a website. The app allows you as user to make a contribution to science and supply information about the water near your location or elsewhere. All your measurements will be visible via the EyeOnWater website.

iSeahorse (global)
iSeahorse harnesses the power of community scientists — anyone, anywhere in the world who sees a seahorse in the wild — to improve our understanding of these animals and protect them from overfishing and other threats.

Redmap (Australia)
Redmap stands for Range Extension Database and Mapping project. This project invites Australians to share sightings of marine species that are ‘uncommon’ to their local seas.

Reef Check (global)
Reef Check is a non-profit organization leading citizen scientists to promote stewardship of sustainable reef communities worldwide.

Spot A Shark (Australia)
Spot A Shark is a citizen-science program that engages anyone who spends time with Grey Nurse Sharks in the water and can assist our research along East Australian coast. Divers, snorkelers, and others are asked to photograph encounters with Grey Nurse sharks and post their images to the Spot A Shark website. Scientists then use unique spot patterns visible along the sides of the photographed sharks to identify individual animals. Identifying individual Grey Nurse sharks helps track shark movement, monitor overall health of the population, and help monitor behaviour and changes at local aggregation sites over time.

OzFish Unlimited is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration and protection of fish habitats across Australia. Their mission is to empower recreational fishers and the broader community to take control of the health of their rivers, lakes, and estuaries, ensuring the future of the sport they love.

The Seeds for Snapper project is an OzFish initiative aimed at restoring seagrass meadows around Australia. The project focuses on cultivating and planting seagrass, which is a vital habitat for marine life, including the iconic Western Australian snapper.

Marine Ranger is a citizen science application enabling collection of information on opportunistic observations of live, injured or by-caught cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and other marine mammals