Dive into one of these marine community science projects
Just because your not a scientist doesn’t mean you can’t make scientific contributions. Across the world community scientists, also known as citizen scientists, are helping discover new species, monitor changes, and help find solutions for a more sustainable future.
Want to give it a try?
Whether you want to jump into the ocean, keep your feet firmly on the ground, or even your bum on your chair, there’s a marine community science project for you.
Here’s just a few you can get involved in.
B.C. Cetacean
Sightings Network (Canada)
Did you see a whale? Let us know!
Just two minutes of your time helps protect the whales in our waters.
When you report your cetacean (whale, dolphin, and porpoise) and sea
turtle sightings, large ships in your area will be immediately alerted
to the presence of the animals and will be able to take measures to
reduce the risk of ship strike and disturbance.
Beluga
Bits (online)
Researchers at Assiniboine Park Zoo are
interested in the social structure and natural history of the beluga
that visit the Churchill River in Northern Manitoba, Canada. During the
summer thousands of beluga whales visit the estuary and at that time.
www.Explore.org runs a live streaming underwater video from a zodiac
that people around the world can view. During the beluga season (July
and August) we ask viewers to capture snapshots when they see the
undersides of beluga and when they see marked beluga. From those photos
we can tell if the animal is male or female. We can tell the approximate
age - if it is an calf, a subadult (grey), or an adult (white). Using
marks (scars or pigments) we identify individual whales. However each
season thousands of photos are captured and we are looking for help
classifying them for analysis.
Big Seaweed
Search (Great Britain)
Seaweeds form the forests of the sea –
providing shelter and food for thousands of marine animals. Seaweeds are
also important for people, they provide a habitat for fish we catch, are
used in food, cosmetics, and medicines, and protect our coasts by
reducing wave and storm damage. This economic as well as environmental
value means it is important for us to monitor seaweeds so we can
understand and sustainably manage them. Help us monitor the effects of
environmental change on Britain’s sealife by exploring the seashore and
recording the living seaweeds you find there.
Birds
with Fish (USA)
Are you a coastal Oregon nature photographer?
Do you have shots of birds carrying fish or other marine and estuarine
invertebrates in their bills or talons? If so, join our effort to learn
about what our coastal birds are eating! We’re looking for pictures of
coastal Oregon birds – i.e. marine and estuarine birds – that have fish,
crabs, squid, octopus or other marine invertebrates in their bills or
talons.
CoastSnap
(Australia)
The next time you visit a NSW beach, why not become
a beach scientist by helping us measure how beaches erode and recover
over time due to changing ocean conditions? 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. Community beach monitoring can help to improve how we manage
treasured coastal environments.
Delaware
Bay Horseshoe Crab Survey (USA)
The Horseshoe Crab, Limulus
polyphemus, migrates to the Delaware Bay Shore each year for spawning
purposes. Through the work of volunteers, the spawning population is
recorded to study the American Horseshoe Crab.
Dolphin
Chat (online)
Ever since the times of Ancient Greeks, humans
have been wondering if dolphins have “language” or at least some sort of
sophisticated communication system. This project will bring us a little
closer to better understanding what information dolphins’ calls could
possibly convey. Additionally, the utilization of deep learning models
allows us to process a lot of data, something that has not been possible
up until relatively recently. Accurate identification of dolphin sounds
will allow better performing passive acoustic investigations as we will
be able to identify if dolphins are visiting certain areas based on
their acoustic signals alone.
eOceans (online)
Through monumental collaboration with ocean allies, like you, we
activate informed decisions for impactful action. By uniting people,
communities, and their observations with real-time analyses, our goal is
to help society quickly detect and respond to change — to overcome the
Shifting Baseline Syndrome and swiftly restore ocean health. We use the
eOceans® mobile app and analytics platform to make it happen.
Explore your
Shore (Ireland)
Our shores are some of the richest habitats we
have in terms of biodiversity. Despite this we have little information
on the distribution of many, if not most, of our intertidal and coastal
marine species. YOU can help contribute to our knowledge of Ireland’s
marine wildlife by getting involved in our marine biodiversity Citizen
Science surveys and partner projects. Contribute at any level, from
absolute beginner to expert identifier
Eye
on the Reef (Australia)
Eye on the Reef is a powerful
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 — from tourists
through to experienced researchers - 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. What
is it you measure? Water colour is an indication for life in the water.
Scientists have been measuring this in marine waters via the Forel-Ule
scale for more than 200 years. Your measurements are invaluable to
scientists and will contribute to this long-term observation of water
colour and continue the timeseries.
Eyes of the Reef
Hawai’i (Hawai’i)
The Eyes of the Reef Network (EOR) is a
community reporting network for coral disease and bleaching; marine
invasive species; crown-of-thorn seastars and fish diseases. It is an
effective statewide reporting system that enables all community members
and ocean users to contribute to the long-term protection of our local
reefs.
Fish
& Click (France)
Avec Fish & Click, chacun peut contribuer au
recensement du matériel de pêche perdu en mer et sur le littoral. Cette
action permettra, à terme, de réduire les impacts de la pollution
plastique issue de la pêche sur les écosystèmes marins. Vous trouvez du
matériel de pêche perdu ? Adoptez le réflexe Fish & Click !
GelAvista
(Portugal)
O GelAvista é o programa responsável pela
monitorização dos organismos gelatinosos em toda a costa portuguesa,
Açores e Madeira, lançado em Fevereiro de 2016. Pretende envolver a
comunidade no desenvolvimento da ciência, colmatando assim a falta de
conhecimento em Portugal sobre os organismos gelatinosos.
Ice Watch
(Norway)
Ice Watch is coordinating the collection and archival
of visual sea ice observations recorded on ships in the Northern
Hemisphere. We provide open source software for recording and sharing
shipborne Arctic sea ice observation data. Data can also be collected in
the Southern Hemisphere, and if submitted here will be passed to the
Australian Antarctic Division database for ASPeCt observations. Ice
Watch is coordinated by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, the
University of Alaska Fairbanks, the International Arctic Research
Center, and the Geographic Information Network of Alaska. The Climate of
the Cryosphere (CliC) office provides support for our international
collaboration and networking.
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.
Manatee
Chat (online)
This project will investigate the form and
function of manatee vocalizations, and it will allow us to learn more
about what signals manatees produce, what potential function they might
serve, and what differences individual manatee calls have.
MangroveWatch
(global)
MangroveWatch is a not-for-profit organisation that
focuses on the research, education and conservation of mangrove and
tidal wetland environments globally. Much of our work is channeled
through our flagship program that is built on partnerships between
scientists, community volunteers and traditional owners.
Manta Matcher
(global)
Each manta has an individual fingerprint: the pattern
of spots on its belly. Get an image or video of their “bellyprint” and
we can match that pattern to mantas already in the database, or your
manta might be completely new to the database. When you submit a manta
identification photo, a local researcher receives a notification. This
researcher will double check that the information you submitted is
correct (so don’t worry if you are unsure about which species you saw!).
Once a researcher is happy with all the data accompanying the
identification photo, they will run the MantaMatcher algorithm. The
algorithm is like facial recognition software for manta
bellies.
Marine
Conservation Society: Big Microplastic Survey (UK)
Microplastics pose a big threat to marine ecosystems and human
health. Alongside the Big Microplastic Survey, we’re collecting vital
data on microplastic pollution in the UK. You can get involved by
heading to the beach and telling us about the microplastics you find
there.
Marine
Conservation Society: Big Seaweed Search (UK)
Our coast is home
to an amazing variety of seaweeds. 650 different species live and grow
around the UK. Discovering where and how they grow can tell us vital
information about our climate. The more data we gather, the more
knowledge and influence we have to fight for the future of our
seas.
Marine
Conservation Society: Seasearch (UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man)
You could help track the health of our ocean by joining
our Seasearch project and help us to protect and restore our marine
environment. Seasearch is a project for recreational divers and
snorkellers who want to do their bit for the marine environment by
collecting information about habitats, plants and animals that they see
under the water. We need Seasearch information from sites all around
Britain and Ireland, including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, so
wherever you dive or snorkel, you can take part.
Marine
Conservation Society: Source to Sea Litter Quest (UK)
Every
year, thousands of people head to the coast to take part in a beach
clean and record what they find there. But if you don’t live near the
sea, you can still make a difference to the health of our ocean by
recording the litter you see in your local area.
Marine
Conservation Society: Wildlife Sightings (Ireland and the UK)
We want to hear about the wildlife you spot at the coast and at
sea, especially marine turtles and jellyfish in UK and Irish waters.
Your sightings provide vital information about our ocean’s inhabitants
and contributes to scientific research which finds solutions to protect
our seas.
Marine mammals in
Belgium (Belgium)
Collecting data on strandings and sightings
of marine mammals is important as such data can provide us with a lot of
information about marine mammals, their population trends, problems they
face, and eventually on the condition of the marine environment in
general. The aim is to gather all Belgian marine mammal observations and
strandings. The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) has
been responsible for coordinating research into the strandings and cause
of death of marine mammals in Belgium since the early 1990s. The
institute produces annual reports on observations and strandings of
marine mammals in Belgium with the collaboration of SEALIFE Blankenberge
and the Universities of Liège and Ghent.
Marine Metre Squared
(New Zealand)
The Marine Metre Squared (Mm2) project has been
developed by the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, Department of Marine
Science, University of Otago. The aim of the project is to encourage
communities to get involved in long-term monitoring of the seashore, to
raise awareness of biodiversity and changes in the marine environment,
and build links between scientists, educators, schools and community/iwi
groups who care about the seashore environment and want to look after
it. We welcome participation from individuals, community groups and
schools – anyone with an interest in the NZ seashore.
Marsh
explorer (online)
The goal of this project is to advance our
understanding of salt marsh ecology by providing researchers with large
amounts of data on the distributions of marsh plants and animals. We are
mapping plant and animal distributions every year over a large area of
marsh in order to understand spatial patterns and how they change over
time. Each year, we take ~15,000 photographs, but we lack the personnel
to analyze all these photographs ourselves. We need citizen scientists
to help us by identifying organisms and features of interest in the
photographs using this web site.
Mitten Crab Watch
(UK)
Chinese mitten crabs are officially listed as one of the
World’s 100 worst invasive species. They can cause damage to fishing
gear and river banks, block intake screens, modify natural habitats and
compete with native species. It is this economic and ecological damage
that makes this crab such an unwelcome arrival. The full extent of these
exotic pests in English and Welsh waters is currently unclear and a
consortium of research institutes is requesting mitten crab sightings
from members of the public, anglers and waterway workers, to clarify the
distribution of this species.
National
Whale & Dolphin Watch (UK)
Research has shown that there is
little awareness in the UK of the tremendous diversity of whales,
dolphins and porpoises to be found around our shores. The aim of this
event is to give a general “snapshot” of what is in UK coastal waters
over a short period of time. As well as gaining valuable research data,
we hope this will draw attention to the conservation of our marine
environment. Occurs annually
NeMO-Net (online)
NeMO-Net is a single player iPad game where players help NASA
classify coral reefs by painting 3D and 2D images of coral. Players can
rate the classifications of other players and level up in the food chain
as they explore and classify coral reefs and other shallow marine
environments and creatures from locations all over the world!
Observadores
del mar: Alien fishes (Spain)
The arrival and establishment of
a species from another region of the world can alter the ecology of
local communities. In the Mediterranean, an important entry route for
tropical fish is the Suez Canal. In 2000, the species Fistularia
comersonii was found for the first time and it has now reached the
Iberian coastline. If you dive or fish, you can detect the arrival and
expansion of exotic species and contribute to their monitoring. Take
photos of fish you do not recognise or any invasive species described,
and report their abundance, location and other simple but relevant
aspects.
Observadores
del mar: Climate Fish (Spain)
Climate change is rapidly
changing the identity of Mediterranean fauna and flora favoring the
success of warm water species while putting at risk the fate of cold
affinity organisms. Fishes are among the best indicators to monitor this
phenomenon. Help us to track their abundance on a regular basis and get
informed on Climate Change impacts! If you are a diver or snorkeler with
a good skill in fish recognition you can help us monitoring a selected
number of coastal fish species along a transect of 5 minutes. Have a
look at our standard protocol and start count fishes!
Observadores
del mar: Coral Alert! (Spain)
Climate change is causing rapid
warming of the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, its warming rates are above
the average for the oceans. The increase in temperature is transforming
marine ecosystems and, in the case of coral and gorgonia, it is severely
affecting their conservation and viability. If you dive, you can report
the location and health condition of coral populations, gather
information about the colonies at different times of year, detect
introduced species and, between May and June, photograph the Paramuricea
clavata red gorgonian in reproduction.
Observadores
del mar: Decapod Crustaceans (Spain)
Decapoda are a group of
crustacea that includes craps, shrimps, lobsters, prawns and hermit
crabs, among other species. It is a very diverse group but also
little-known. In the Mediterranean there are some very common and very
rare species, and others that are invasive. On the coast or in the water
you can gather valuable information about decapoda. Take photos of them
in their habitat and during various stages of development, identify
invasive species or report any anomalies you detect, such as mass
mortality or variations in reproduction.
Observadores
del mar: Hidden Deserts (Spain)
Algal forests are fundamental
ecosystems that provide a refuge and food for many marine species.
Various factors such as overfishing, invasive fish and climate change
are contributing to their disappearance. Underwater deserts or
algae-free zones take their place, leaving exposed rocky areas with
barely any production or biodiversity. If you dive, you can get involved
in monitoring underwater deserts. Locate algae-free zones, take photos
and state their location and size. Gather data at different times of
year and report the presence of indicator species, such as sea urchins,
salpa and rabbitfish
Observadores
del mar: Invasive Algae (Spain)
The entry of exotic algal
species in the Mediterranean is increasing, a process that is worsening
due to human activity. One example of this is Caulerpa cylindracea, one
of the invasive species that has the greatest impact due to factors such
as mechanical destruction of marine habitats and excess nutrients, among
others. If you dive or snorkel you can expand the information we have
about invasive algae. When you see a target species or one you have
never seen before, take a photo to help identify it and send details
about its environment. If you visit the same area, you will contribute
to assessing the expansion of identified species.
Observadores
del mar: Jellyfish Alert (Spain)
Many different native species
of jellyfish live in the Mediterranean. Some of the populations
proliferate at certain times of year, which can have an impact on marine
ecosystems and human activities as they are organisms that sting. You
can contribute to monitoring jellyfish on the coast or in open sea. Take
photos of those you find on the sand on the beach or those you observe
in the sea during the summer and the rest of the year. If you detect a
proliferation of these animals, report it.
Observadores
del mar: Marine Litter (Spain)
Marine waste is a global problem
with a direct impact on seas and oceans around the world. Poorly managed
waste ends up in the sea from rivers or directly from maritime trade,
fishing and other activities. This waste concentrates on coasts, in
estuaries and on the seabed and may persist for thousands of years. If
you dive, fish or frequently visit the coast, you can provide very
valuable information. Take photos of the waste built up on beaches, in
estuaries, on the seabed or in your fishing net. Estimate its density
and report the habitats where you found it and the creatures in contact
with it.
Observadores
del mar: Mediterranean Fishes (Spain)
Today we still do not
know many details about the habitats and distribution of fish species in
the Mediterranean. Moreover, some species are particularly sensitive to
increases in the sea temperature and in response they modify their
population distribution, which makes them indicators of climate change.
If you dive, snorkel or fish, you can expand our knowledge of fish. Take
photos of species that are indicators of climate change, gather data
about their abundance and location, and report unknown fish, cases of
mass mortality, variations to their distribution and alteration to their
habitat.
Observadores
del mar: Microplastic Watchers (Spain)
More than 60% of the
waste built up in the sea and on the coast of the planet is plastic.
This material is very long-lasting but it also tends to break up into
increasingly smaller particles called microplastics that can enter the
food cycle as many marine organisms confuse them with food. If you are
an educational centre, an association or another group, get fully
involved in researching and monitoring microplastics on the beaches in
our sampling network. Diagnosing the build-up of micro-plastics gives
visibility to the problem and its effects on the ecosystem.
Observadores
del mar: Pen Shells (Spain)
Fan mussels (Pinna nobilis) are
bivalve molluscs that are endemic to the Mediterranean and live in
Posidonia oceanica fields. They can reach 40 years of age. Since autumn
2016, a pathogen has caused the mortality of fan mussels to rocket. This
impact comes together with other threats such as pollution, fishing and
degradation of their habitat. If you dive and find fan mussels, dead or
alive, report their location, depth and health condition. Your
observation is crucial to expand our knowledge of this problem. You can
also report the presence of Pinna rudis, another fan mussel species,
which is not threatened but less known.
Observadores
del mar: Seabirds (Spain)
In spite of the large amount of
observations performed by the birdwatching community around the world,
information about the presence of birds out at sea is scarce in
comparison. Gathering data about birds out at sea has great value in
studying the conditions of their habitats and their relationship with
the marine environment. If you have some ornithological knowledge and go
sailing, you can contribute a lot to the project. Identify the birds in
different parts of the sea in different seasons of the year, spot
iconic, protected or endangered species, and report on unusual behaviour
you may detect or distribution changes.
Observadores
del mar: Seagrass in Reproduction (Spain)
Phanerogamae form
seagrass fields, which play a key role in the Mediterranean ecosystem.
They are the home for a range of species, help keep the water clean,
cushion surges and reduce beach erosion. However, activities such as
anchoring boats, coastal infrastructure and pollution are reducing
seagrass fields in many areas. On the beach or in the water, if you can
find flowers or fruit of any of the phanerogamae species, fragments of
rarer species or a noteworthy impact affecting seagrass fields, take
photos to provide evidence and report what you have observed.
Observadores
del mar: Sharks and Rays (Spain)
Sharks and rays are a very
diverse group and constitute a key element in the regulation of coastal
and oceanic marine ecosystems. At present, it is one of the groups most
threatened with extinction in the world, so the protection of these
species should be considered a priority. The main causes that have led
to the decline in populations of sharks and rays around the world are
overfishing and the degradation of habitats. The main objective of the
project is to determinate the areas where inhabit the different sharks
and rays species, especially those that are threatened with extinction.
Sharks and rays are not very abundant, but you can see them from a boat,
from the beach or underwater. If you see any, you can take photographs
or videos that serve as evidence of their presence. You can also report
their abundance, location and other aspects that seem relevant to
you.
Observadores
del mar: Syngnathids (Spain)
Seahorses and pipefish are species
that are closely connected to their environment. They are not very
mobile and they have a particular form of reproduction in which the
males incubate the eggs. These characteristics make them animals that
are very sensitive to changes to their habitat, and they are often
threatened by human activity. If you dive, you can do a lot to protect
these astounding creatures. Report the presence and abundance of
seahorse and pipefish species in your area, take photos and describe the
habitat of these animals. You can also follow the evolution of their
populations over time.
Ocean
Wise Sightings Network (Canada)
The beauty of the Ocean Wise
Sightings Network is that by employing a variety of outreach events,
community members are encouraged to contribute to our conservation
efforts and report their sightings. This data plays an integral role in
various conservation projects concerning cetacean health and monitoring,
and can be useful in identifying critical habitat, developing
species-specific recovery strategies, and implementing regulations
related to cetaceans and harmful human activities. Individual sighting
reports are also relayed in real-time to Ocean Wise’s WhaleReport Alert
System (WRAS), a tool developed for ship captains of large commercial
vessels (e.g., ferries, tugs, and freighters) to alert them of the
presence of whales within 10 nautical miles of their location. The WRAS
functions to provide advance warning to mariners to reduce their impacts
on nearby cetaceans by slowing down, re-routing, or halting their
vessel.
OceanEYEs
(online)
NOAA scientists need your help to count fish and
improve data used in management of the Hawaiʻi “Deep 7” bottomfish
fishery! NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center deploys
stereo-camera systems on the seafloor to help monitor populations of
deep-water snappers and groupers. The local commercial fishery in
Hawaiʻi targets these fish primarily. Each camera can record tens of
thousands of images! Human observers annotate the images to count and
measure each species. This can take months using only a small team of
researchers. With your help, we can speed up the work and train machine
vision algorithms to improve our analysis. This will make us one step
closer to improving fish stock assessments, which are used by fishery
managers!
OpenLitterMap
(global)
Right now, trillions of plastic-tipped cigarette butts
are leeching toxic chemicals and microplastics into the environment. The
result? Massive amounts of nicotine and other toxic chemicals get
released. These toxic chemicals bio-accumulate in various plants and
animals. Some of which we eat. An environmental emergency is at our
fingertips. You can help us fix this by contributing to OpenLitterMap.
Just take a photo, tag the litter, & upload it to our app.
Penguin
detective (online)
Over the last several years, penguin
biologists have been working hard to find all the penguin colonies in
Antarctica using satellite imagery. However, the massive expanse of the
continent and the challenges of finding each last penguin colony leave
many likely undiscovered. This is where you can help! This short guide
is intended to walk you through the basics of penguin colony detective
work using Google Earth. Understanding what you are seeing in satellite
imagery takes some practice, but with some patience, you too can join
the online expedition to find all of Antarctica’s penguins.
Penguin
Watch (online)
Welcome to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean!
Penguins - globally loved, but under threat. Research shows that in some
regions, penguin populations are in decline; but why? Click “get
started” to begin monitoring penguins, and help us answer this question.
With over 100 sites to explore, we need your help now more than
ever!
Project
Sepia (UK)
Thank you very much for taking the time to log your
cuttlefish related sighting. The survey will take no longer than 5-10
minutes and will contribute to building a database on cuttlefish
distribution across the UK which will aid in the understanding and
conservation of these beautiful creatures!
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. Over time,
Redmap will use this ‘citizen science’ data to map which Australian
marine species may be extending their distribution range – a.k.a moving
house - in response to changes in the marine environment, such as ocean
warming. Redmap members use their knowledge of the seas to help monitor
Australia’s vast coastline. The citizen science data also highlights
regions and species that may be experiencing more distribution changes,
so that research can be focused into these areas.
Reef Check
(global)
Reef Check is a non-profit organization leading
citizen scientists to promote stewardship of sustainable reef
communities worldwide. Reef Check’s Vision: Thriving reefs, cared for by
communities sustained for generations to come.
SeabirdWatch
(online)
The world’s seabirds are in decline, but some species
are doing well in some areas, but poorly in others. There are big,
technical difficulties in studying seabird colonies at large scales.
However, if we can monitor many colonies at the same time and analyze
the data rapidly, we can identify which threats are important and
encourage policy makers to act.
SeagrassSpotter
(global)
SeagrassSpotter seeks to expand the number of people
studying seagrass from a handful of scientists to hundreds and
potentially thousands of ‘citizen scientists.’ As part of efforts to
build a sustainable monitoring network, and by leveraging the enthusiasm
of everyone from fishers to SCUBA divers to people on vacations at the
beach, we’ll create a more comprehensive picture of seagrass meadows
around the globe. This in turn will inspire new scientific research and
practical conservation measures that can help protect ocean habitats.
Working together with citizen scientists all over the world, we’ll
accomplish big things for seagrass and other vulnerable marine species,
but only with your help. The SeagrassSpotter project has been created by
Project Seagrass in association with Cardiff University and Swansea
University.
Seal
Spotter (online)
Australian fur seals play an important role in
Australia’s marine ecosystems, particularly around Phillip Island. To
better understand them, we need your help. SealSpotter allows anyone
with a computer to help with the management and protection of our oceans
by counting seals in images captured with a UAV (a.k.a ‘drone’). This
allows Nature Parks scientists to analyse seal population and marine
debris entanglement data faster and more accurately, leading to a
greater understanding of their world and the threats they
face.
Secchi Disk
(global)
Climate change is threatening the phytoplankton that
underpins the marine food chain. We must understand why before it’s too
late. Help collect essential data by taking part in this vital citizen
science study.
Spider
Crab Watch (online)
There is an amazing natural spectacle
taking place each year in Port Phillip Bay and other places along the
Great Southern Reef - the gathering of massive numbers of spider crabs.
Despite this phenomenon attracting and fascinating people from far and
wide, we know so little about the lives of spider crabs and about those
gatherings! Spider crabs need to shed their hard shell in order to grow
bigger (a process called moulting). After this, they are soft and very
vulnerable to predators. This is why we think they gather in such high
numbers - to seek safety in numbers! Your help is invaluable to gather
information on one of the most mysterious natural wonders, to understand
how long spider crab gatherings are taking place and what role they play
in the environment, including for animals at the top of the food
chain!
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. This information is used by Spot A Shark researchers, as well as
international partners, to facilitate management decisions aimed towards
conserving our Critically Endangered population of Grey Nurse sharks. By
supporting this project, you are helping researchers gather valuable
data, which may help provide long-term protection for the Grey Nurse
sharks and their habitats.
Spyfish
Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Spyfish Aotearoa is a newly launched
collaboration between DOC and Wildlife.AI, a charitable organisation
applying artificial intelligence to conservation. The team deploys
baited underwater cameras in marine reserves all over Aotearoa New
Zealand to monitor the abundance and diversity of marine life. The
underwater videos are hosted online for citizen scientists to identify
and count the fish species present in the footage.
This project is also being used to train artificial intelligence
software. In the future, the software will automatically process the
footage and reduce the need for citizen scientists to manually classify
the information.
Surfing
for Science (Spain)
Surfing for Science is a pioneering
initiative to assess the level of microplastic pollution in shoreline
waters. Citizens participate in the project by collecting scientific
samples whilst paddle surfing. The final objective is twofold: knowing
how much and what type of microplastics are present in coastline waters
will help us find solutions to reduce their impact; we would also hope
that society becomes more scientifically aware of the problems that
plastic pollution generates.
The
Cephalopod Citizen Science Project ()
The Cephalopod Citizen
Science Project is a worldwide scientific research study using reports
of cephalopods from members of the public and researchers alike to help
understand behaviour in the wild. Despite cephalopods being much loved
creatures and having been used in science for a variety of reasons, very
little is known about most cephalopods behaviour and lifecycles within
their natural habitats. With help from citizens and scientists, we hope
to gain greater understanding of cephalopod behaviour to inform new
research and develop welfare strategies that can be to help prevent
stress and potential injury to cephalopods when humans encounter them in
the wild.
The Great Reef
Census (global)
The Great Reef Census is a groundbreaking
citizen science effort to survey the Great Barrier Reef. Whether you’re
on the Reef or on the other side of the world, you can be part of this
important conservation initiative.
The
Koster seafloor observatory (online)
Explore the Kosterhavets
National Park, Sweden’s first marine national park: from your sofa, and
help scientists at the Koster Seafloor Observatory discover the species,
habitats, and even litter found there
The
Rock Pool Project (UK)
We are a not-for-profit community
interest company, passionate about connecting people of all ages and
backgrounds to the incredible wildlife found around our coastline. Our
mission is to bring people together, connect with our nature and collect
data on biodiversity. We have three survey options that can suit people
of all abilities: BioBlitz; Mini-Biodiveristy Survey; Crustacean
Survey
The SeaKeepers
International Society (global)
The International SeaKeepers
Society promotes oceanographic research, conservation, and education
through direct involvement with the yachting community. Providing
educational resources and hands-on marine science experiences to
students is the primary focus for ensuring the future wellbeing of our
planet. SeaKeepers enables the yachting community to take full advantage
of their unique potential to advance marine sciences and raise awareness
about global ocean issues.
The
SIREN Project (online)
The collection of hydrological data in
Italy has been managed at the national level by the National
Hydrological and Mareographic Service (SIMN) since early 1900. The
dismantlement of the SIMN, performed about 30 years ago, resulted in
data collection being transferred to a regional level. This change has
determined problems in the availability of complete and homogeneous data
for the whole country. Historical hydrological measurements are usually
available only in the printed version of the Hydrological Yearbooks and
limited efforts have been spent to digitize this collection. Within the
SIREN (Saving Italian hydRological mEasuremeNts) project we aim to
digitize these data by crowd-sourcing the recovery of hydrological
measurements from historical Hydrological Yearbooks to produce a
consistent dataset.
Wakame Watch
(UK)
Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) is a large species of seaweed
originating from the Pacific and is considered by the IUCN Invasive
Specialist Group to be one of the 100 ‘world’s worst’ invasive species,
due to its potential to impact ecological and economic interests.
Scientists do not currently believe that the true spread of the species
is known for Great Britain and North West Europe and producing an
accurate distribution of this species is important in terms of managing
and controlling spread. Wakame Watch has been established in order to
generate an up-to-date picture of the distribution of the species, by
encouraging recording of sightings from the public, in particular, we
are asking divers, snorkelers, recreational boat users, fishermen and
environmental surveyors to let us know when they encounter the
species.
Walking
on the sea traces (global)
We propose 3 themes: 1) Water at
Home deals with the topic of domestic use of drinking water, 2) The Sea
at the Table allows us to better understand your consumption of fish and
sea products, and 3) SOS Plastic at Sea offers you an opportunity to
reflect on the environmental impact of plastic material and waste.
Participation is simple and fun!
Whale
Chat (online)
This project aims to investigate humpback songs
from different years and regions, to identify humpback whale sounds in
recordings, to classify these calls or units, and eventually to see if
we can find individually distinct calls or units (the same way we do in
Manatee Chat). This information will be used to train deep learning
models that will be able to identify humpback whale sounds in
recordings, to classify calls, and to search for underlying structure,
hopefully allowing better understanding of the song’s function. If it is
possible to identify individually distinct calls, then this information
could be used to track migrating whales acoustically, helping to get
valuable information about humpback whale populations and their
health.