Dive into one of these marine community science projects

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.


Adopt-a-Rockpool (Ireland)
Survey your rockpool once in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Take photos of as many different marine plants or animals from your favourite Rockpool.

Adopt a Wreck (UK)
The Adopt a Wreck scheme was originally devised in 2000 with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The scheme serves as a way of encouraging the public to actively record the sites they are visiting and everyone who has adopted a site is encouraged to submit their work for the annual Adopt a Wreck Award.

Algal Blooms Sweden (Sweden)
Algal Blooms Sweden is a marine Citizen Science project aiming at engaging the general public to help survey and, ultimately, forecast harmful algal blooms (HABs). The information provided in the form of reports is used in the development of an innovative AI-based prognosis tool for predicting these recurring events. Extensive ocean data for essential variables related to HABs (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations), satellite data of bloom formations, weather, sunlight, temperature and chlorophyll concentrations are publicily available, yet information at the local scale is scarce. By involving citizens in this process of data acquisition, we are able to improve our prediction models and it becomes an invaluable resource for transforming the way we do research.

Alien CSI Bioblitz (Europe)
There is no sign of saturation in accumulation of alien species (AS) introductions worldwide, while the rate of spread for some AS seems to be increasing. Particular attention must be dedicated to Invasive Alien Species (IAS), i.e., AS that harm biodiversity and ecosystem services, or have a negative impact on the economy or human health. Managing biological invasions depends on accurate, detailed and up-to-date information on occurrences, distribution, pathways and impact of IAS at varying spatial scales across Europe and indeed globally. The challenges of gathering information on AS are recognized, but recent developments in citizen science (CS), that is, the involvement of citizens in data collection or analysis for research projects, provide an opportunity to improve data flow and knowledge on AS. Further, it ensures effective and high quality societal engagement with the issue of IAS.

Anemoon KIDS (The Netherlands)
Wist je dat er in zee veel te ontdekken is? Op het strand liggen schelpen en soms zeesterren. Leer zeedieren en wieren beter kennen met Stichting ANEMOON voor kinderen. Ontdek hoe je schelpen en andere zeedieren zelf kan zoeken. Ook kun je hier puzzelen, knutselen en kleuren met zeedieren.

avvistAPP (Italy)
avvistAPP è un’applicazione gratuita nata per aiutare i ricercatori a studiare una specie aliena nuova per l’Adriatico: la noce di mare Mnemiopsis leidyi (per saperne di più visita il sito <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.inogs.it/it/content/noce-di-mare>). Con avvistAPP puoi facilmente segnalare anche la presenza di meduse, delfini e tartarughe. Basta scattare una foto dell’animale e mandarcela tramite l’app. Se non riesci a fare la foto dell’animale visto, mandaci comunque la tua segnalazione spedendo una foto del luogo dell’avvistamento, ci sarai comunque di grande aiuto.

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.

Basking shark sightings project (Uk and Ireland)
You can help us learn more about these gentle giants by being on the look-out for them during May-October (Basking Shark Season). And, if you spot one, by recording your sighting on our Shark Sightings Database.

Beach Explorer (North Sea)
If you find something interesting or mysterious at the North Sea beach, BalticExplorer is the right website for you! We offer determination support and inform about all kinds of beached objects - natural or man-made. We collect all records and make them available for scientific coastal research.

Beach Track (Scotland)
Beach Track enables you to contribute to one of the world’s largest and most extensive datasets on marine strandings and beach health. Through the app you will be able to log survey tracks around the Scottish coast and submit reports of any marine animal carcasses or marine litter you encounter. By taking a walk along a stretch of coast, then submitting your track and observations, you will help us collect vital information about our coastal environments. This information will help improve our understanding of the health of, and threats to marine animals, and in turn help all of us better protect our seas.

Begin es boek met records (The Netherlands)
Records’ opschrijven en verbeteren kan natuurlijk ook met bijzondere strandvondsten. Met name via internet, facebook en andere media worden bijzondere vondsten wereldkundig gemaakt: Benieuwd naar “de grootste”, “zwaarste” of “de meeste”?

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 Beach Clean Marine Litter Data Collection (Ireland)
During the Big Beach Clean, Clean Coasts volunteers are asked to be part of an excellent round the world citizen science data collection project and to carry out marine litter surveys to quantify the amount and types of litter on Irish beaches. These surveys are aimed at heightening awareness about the issue of marine litter and serve as an indicator of the magnitude of the problem. We also encouraged our groups to use the Clean Swell App by Ocean Conservancy.

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.

BioLit: Algues Brunes et Bigorneaux (France)
Sur les côtes rocheuses de l’Atlantique et de la Manche-Mer du Nord, les algues brunes forment un écosystème majeur pour la biodiversité de notre Littoral; elles constituent un habitat formidable pour de nombreuses espèces animales qui y trouvent un refuge et de quoi se nourrir. Or leur régression, observée depuis trois décennies, en certains points, pose quelques questions aux chercheurs du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. Plusieurs hypothèses peuvent expliquer un tel phénomène : le changement climatique, la pression démographique sur le littoral, les pollutions… postulats qui demandent à être précisés et discutés. En participant au programme BioLit, vous allez aider les chercheurs à comprendre ce qu’il se passe. Vous allez permettre à la Science d’avancer, et, à terme, à la société de prendre de meilleures décisions en termes de gestion et de protection du littoral. Votre participation est donc essentielle.

BioLit: Les nouveaux arrivants (France)
Comme nous, les espèces animales et végétales voyagent, certaines malgré elles. Accrochées sur les coques des navires, transportées dans les eaux de ballast, elles traversent les mers et s’installent, parfois, dans un nouvel environnement. On parle alors d’espèces non-indigènes (ENI) ou introduites par l’homme. En participant au programme BioLit, vous aidez les chercheurs du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle à suivre l’évolution et la répartition de ces espèces. Les indices collectés lors de votre enquête et compilés au niveau européen viendront renseigner la Directive-Cadre Stratégie pour le Milieu Marin. Vous permettez ainsi à la science d’avancer et, à terme, à la société de prendre de meilleures décisions en faveur de la protection du littoral.

BioLit: Les saisons de la mer (France)
Les saisons marquent de façon très significative l’environnement terrestre. En mer, leur expression reste plus discrète. Pourtant, les Saisons de la Mer impriment leur influence et rythment le cycle de vie de la faune et flore marines. Pas besoin d’être sous l’eau, certains éléments sont rapportés par les vagues ! Ainsi, à partir du rivage, il devient possible de suivre, tout au long de l’année, le contenu de la laisse de mer. À quel moment et où ont lieu les échouages de vélelles arrivant généralement au printemps, mais pouvant arriver plus tard en raison du changement climatique ? Quand et où trouvons-nous des « olives » sur les plages, marquant les années de reproduction de la posidonie ? Les questions sont nombreuses, aidez-nous à connaître les Saisons de la Mer !

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.

Black Sea Watch (Black Sea)
BLACK SEA WATCH PROJECT is a joint initiative of Green Balkans NGO, Bulgaria and TUDAV, Turkey aiming/s to raise public awareness on biodiversity of the Black Sea – a fragile ecosystem facing many threats. The developed tools – mobile app for smart phones and website – intend to raise knowledge about the flora and fauna inhabiting the Black Sea and to promote involvement of public into “citizen science” in the region. Collection of data and its submission by users will contribute to studies on on occurrence and distribution of different species in the Black Sea.

Bloomin’ Algae (UK)
Bloomin’ Algae is a Citizen Science app for reporting the presence of harmful algal blooms of blue-green algae. The app helps speed up public health warnings and can help teach you how to recognise the risks to you, children and animals. By sending in your records of blue-green algae, you can help provide a rapid and more comprehensive picture of harmful algal blooms in your area. This will help inform the relevant environment agency, local authority or landowner of potential public health risks in your area so that, if needed, they can provide early warning to the public. As well as recording the location and date of the bloom, you need to submit a photo of the bloom to help us verify your record. Optionally, we ask you to tell us what activities take place at the lake e.g. swimming, dog walking, etc. This is to gauge the potential health risks to people or animals.

Cetalingua Project (online)
Do dolphins have “language?” What is the meaning of a humpback’s song? What information does a manatee call convey? Marine mammal acoustic communication is extremely diverse, complex, and many species have neural wiring supporting a potentially sophisticated communication system. Yet in the absence of “Rosetta Stone,” our efforts to decode it have been challenging. Our approach to decoding marine mammal communication is to use large datasets, both audio and video, to analyze behaviors and calls produced by marine mammals in search for individual variation, call categories, and sequential information. This data will be eventually used to conduct the playback experiment to establish the potential function or “meaning” of the call. Understanding form and function of marine mammal communication goes well beyond the quest of whether or not dolphins have “language,” as it has practical conservation benefits: tracking individuals via passive acoustics, warning boaters about the presence of manatees or whales, and using acoustics to evaluate a marine mammal’s health, activities and crucial habitats.

Citclops: Citizens’ Observatory for Coast and Ocean Optical Monitoring (Europe)
The Citclops project aims to develop systems to retrieve and use data on seawater colour, transparency and fluorescence, using low-cost sensors combined with people acting as data carriers, contextual information (e.g. georeferencing) and a community-based Internet platform, taking into account existing experiences (e.g. Secchi Dip-In, Coastwatch Europe and Oil Reporter).

Citizen Fins (UK)
Welcome to Citizen Fins! This project combines research and citizen science photo-identification data of bottlenose dolphins, to help understand how the pattern of movements of bottlenose dolphins along the east coast of Scotland and into NE England is changing. Knowing about dolphin movements assists population monitoring and evaluation of the potential impacts of offshore developments on these animals along the east coasts of Scotland and England.



Clean Coasts Observer (Ireland)
Are you a curious type, that nerds on all things nature? Would you like to learn more about the marine environment whilst contributing to scientific studies that aim to improve and protect our environment? If so, you’ve found your new calling as a ‘Citizen Scientist’. Citizen scientists are members of the public who contribute to scientific studies through data collection, analysis, or reporting. To highlight this important and empowering role, we launched the ‘Clean Coasts Observer’ initiative in 2021. The initiative aims to inform Clean Coasts volunteers on coastal and marine topics, while also giving them the skills to become citizen scientists. The initiative will feature Clean Coasts citizen science reporting on marine litter surveys, in addition to promoting national studies in areas like biodiversity, climate, geology, and pollution monitoring.

Coastal Nature Challenge (UK)
We’re on a mission to spot and record as many different coastal wildlife species as possible this National Marine Week! We are challenging people up and down the coast of the North West to get out and look for wildlife on their local coastline. Whether that’s searching for shells on the strandline, looking into crevices and rockpools, exploring the critters that live in our mudflats, or discovering flowers in the sand dunes - we want to know what you see and where you see it!

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.

De Grote Schelpenteldag (The Netherlands)
En help zo onderzoekers een beter beeld te vormen van onze Noordzee. Met dit burgerwetenschapsinitiatief leert de wetenschap heel wat over het voorkomen van deze zeedieren, de impact van klimaat op de biodiversiteit, en de aanwezigheid van exoten.

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.

DISCOVERY Yacht Program (global)
The DISCOVERY Yacht Program is comprised of Scientist-Led Expeditions, Citizen Science, Educational Outreach and Community Engagement, fostering collaborations with organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies. SeaKeepers partners with yacht owners, orchestrating research and outreach tailored to their unique ocean interests. As boats traverse the globe, SeaKeepers enhances their impact through conservation, research, and education during their voyages. Participation ranges from concise seabed mapping to extensive expeditions. Generous yacht owners may earn tax benefits and recognition at SeaKeepers events, on the website, and within newsletters.

Dive NI (Northern Ireland)
Report Your Sightings! Records of marine species from people exploring the sea around Northern Ireland are vital for monitoring and protecting our local marine environment.

DONIA (global)
The DONIA application allows boaters, divers, fishermen and all sea lovers to exchange information while helping to protect sensitive marine ecosystems in compliance with the law. It offers an enriched cartographic rendering by integrating the nature of the seabed, bathymetry, regulations at sea, satellite images, points of interest, and many specific sites (diving sites, ports, anchorages, underwater photographs, observations of application users).

ECOPreds project (France)
Have you been lucky enough to watch killer whales in Scotland? Or do you enjoy watching seals in areas visited by killer whales? Do you have images or footage of killer whale foraging behaviour? – Either way, we would love to learn from your observations and recordings.

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

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 !

Fish Watch Forum (Europe)
Conçu et porté par l’association Peau-Bleue et le laboratoire ECOMERS de l’Université de Nice – Sophia Antipolis, le Fish Watch Forum a pour but de collecter et rassembler vos observations sur les poissons marins d’Europe de l’Ouest et de Méditerranée. Le Fish Watch Forum fonctionne avec une équipe de bénévoles, notamment pour la validation et la mise en ligne des données. Soyez indulgent et n’hésitez pas à nous faire part de vos remarques (onglet “Contact” en haut de page). Et envoyez vos photos et observations : c’est grâce aux contributions de tous que ce site s’enrichit jour après jour !

FossilFinder (Austria)
Im Rahmen dieses neuen Projektes finden interessierte Citizen Scientists - von Schüler:innen, über Hobbysammler:innen bis hin zu professionellen Wissenschaftler:innen - eine Basis um neue Fossilfunde bestimmen zu lassen, diese zu publizieren und so das Netz zu erdgeschichtlichen Daten in Österreich zu vervollständigen. Wir freuen uns Ihnen die Web-App auf der SPOTTERON Citizen Science Plattform vorstellen zu dürfen: Der Fossilfinder ist das neue Tool für Hobby- und Profipaläontolog:innen zum Dokumentieren von Fossilfunden in ganz Österreich und darüber hinaus.

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.

GhostMed (the Mediterranean Sea)
Share your sightings of ghost fishing gear in the Mediterranean Sea

Happy Whale (global)
Submit your whale photos! Do you have images from previous sightings? Sending older images is a great way to get started with Happywhale.

Het Groene Strand (The Netherlands)
Met het project Het Groene Strand gaan LandschappenNL en de samenwerkende provinciale Landschapsorganisaties samen met Stichting Duinbehoud, IVN, Vogelbescherming Nederland en Stichting ANEMOON aan de slag om de natuur en natuurbeleving weer haar plek terug te geven op het strand.

ID the Manta (global)
If you have seen a manta ray anywhere in the world, you can contribute directly to our global research and conservation efforts. Submit your images and some basic information about the sighting to our IDtheManta database, and we will provide feedback about the individual manta you encountered.

Iguanas from Above (online)
Marine Iguanas need your help! Help us count Galapagos Marine Iguanas from aerial photographs so we can save these awesome animals from extinction! Marine iguanas are threatened by invasive species, pollution, and climate change. We are collecting the first good comprehensive population size estimates for this endangered species. To do this, we use drones to collect images of the Galapagos coastlines. From these images, we will count the iguanas to estimate their number in different locations. From these estimates, we can make a solid plan to protect them. And by helping us count them, you are directly contributing to saving this awesome species!

Irish Basking Shark Group Sightings (Ireland)
We rely on sightings data to help us understand key features of basking shark behavior and movement patterns. To do so, we work collaboratively with the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group to ensure that each sighting is recorded and stored in a single national database. Reported sightings are freely accessible for use by research groups and used to inform marine-based environmental impact assessments.

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.

KOR-project (The Netherlands)
Het KOR-project heeft tot doel het zeeleven onder de kust te verkennen. Het net -de kor- wordt vanaf het strand voortgetrokken. Na gemiddeld tien minuten trekken wordt de kor het strand opgetrokken, waarna de gevangen dieren worden geteld en gemeten.

Le RNE, Réseau National Échouages (France)
Le RNE, Réseau National Échouages est le principal outil desuivi des échouages de mammifères marins. Pour les espèces marines, le RNE est probablement le programme de sciences participatives le plus ancien et structuré en France. La coordination scientifique du RNE est assurée par l’Observatoire Pelagis.

Litoraal Inventarisatie en Monitoring Project (LIMP) (The Netherlands)
LIMP staat voor Litoraal Inventarisatie en Monitoring Project. Dit project is bedoeld om inzicht te verkrijgen in de trends en seizoenspatronen van dieren en zeewieren uit het litoraal (de zone tussen de eb- en vloedlijn) en om de verspreiding van deze soorten in kaart te brengen.

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.

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.

Monitoringproject Onderwater Oever (The Netherlands)
Het Monitoringproject Onderwater Oever (MOO) voor sportduikers en snorkelaars heeft tot doel veranderingen in het onderwaterleven te signaleren. Wie aan het MOO meedoet, draagt bij aan het opbouwen van kennis over de onderwaternatuur, zodat deze beter kan worden beheerd en beschermd.

National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2025 (UK)
National Whale and Dolphin Watch is a week long citizen science event dedicated to studying and protecting cetaceans in UK waters. By taking part in National Whale and Dolphin Watch, the data you submit plays a invaluable role in understanding cetacean distribution, abundance, and population trends, as well as increase public awareness about the incredible whales, dolphins and porpoises that inhabit our seas. All you need to do is turn your eyes to the sea to help out!

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!

Plages Vivantes (France)
Le programme « Plages Vivantes » est un observatoire participatif de la biodiversité des hauts de plages pour mieux comprendre et prédire les effets des changements globaux et locaux. Destiné à un large public, il offre la possibilité de réaliser des protocoles scientifiques de façon ludique et permet de récolter de nombreuses données qui aideront les scientifiques à comprendre les changements globaux qui s’opèrent.

Project ALeRT - Archéologie, Littoral et Réchauffement Terrestre (France)
Participer à la protection du patrimoine archéologique littoral

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!

Purperslak Inventarisatie en Monitoring Project (PIMP) (The Netherlands)
Het PIMP is opgezet vanwege de sterke achteruitgang van de Purperslak door het gebruik van Organotin-verbindingen in aangroeiwerende producten voor schepen. Met het PIMP kunnen Purperslak populaties jaarlijks gevolgd worden.

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.

Sea Watch Foundation whale, dolphin, and porpoise sightings (UK)
If you live or work on the coast or at sea, then you can help the Sea Watch Foundation with its valuable work. If you sight whales, dolphins and porpoises and want to submit your sightings and recording forms, please return them to Sea Watch – every bit helps!

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.

Seasearch Ireland Adopt-a-Site (Ireland)
In order to better monitor inshore biodiversity the an effort based monitoring scheme – Adopt-a-Site was launched in 2016. The Scheme consists of 17 sites monitored once a month over 5 months (May-September) and to the end of 2017 has collected 2,652 records of 209 species. The Adopt a Site scheme is aimed at clubs, dive centres and individual divers and training is organised locally on request.

Seashore Spotter (Ireland)
Seashore Spotter is a Citizen Science survey allowing you record any marine species (even if you don’t know what it is!), any time, anywhere.

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.

Signalering Exoten (The Netherlands)
Exoten zijn organismen die oorspronkelijk niet in Nederland voorkomen. Door menselijk handelen zijn ze in de Nederlandse natuur terecht gekomen. Als een exoot explosief toeneemt dan wordt gesproken van een invasieve exoot en is er een (potentiële) bedreiging van de biodiversiteit.

Sint Eustatius (MOO) (The Netherlands)
Sint Eustatius is een eiland binnen het Nederlands Caribisch gebied. Voor het beheer en de bescherming van het Nationale Mariene Park is belangstelling voor en goede kennis van de mariene natuur belangrijk. ANEMOON wil met het Monitoringproject Onderwater Oever (MOO) een bijdrage leveren.

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.

Strandaanspoelsel Monitoring Project (SMP) (The Netherlands)
Het SMP (Strandaanspoelsel Monitoring Project) wordt uitgevoerd door strandwachters. Deze lopen wekelijks of eens in de twee weken een vastgesteld SMP-traject bij laagwater over het strand. Daarbij registeren ze alle aangespoelde organismen of resten daarvan.

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 Big Beach Biodiversity Survey (Ireland)
Record marine species found cast up on Irish beaches. The remains of species cast up by the tide can be a really useful indicator of what is living beneath the adjacent waves. It helps us map the distribution of marine species around the Irish coastline, and to find out what species occur at different times of year.

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 Great Rocky Shore BioBlitz (Ireland)
Help us find Ireland’s most Biodiverse Rocky Shore! by recording as many marine species as possible from your local rocky shore.

The Great Shark Snapshot (global)
Take part in our community science project and help us gather vital information about global shark distribution. During the Great Shark Snapshot we want buddy pairs, dive centres, clubs and boats to join us and record as many shark, ray and skate sightings around the world as possible. We will come together, go diving, and record all the sharks that we see in a global Great Shark Snapshot event. Over time, each Snapshot will build a clearer picture for shark scientists and conservationists. A picture of species distribution around the world and population changes. 1/3 of sharks and rays are threatened from destructive fishing, climate change and habitat destruction. The data collected will help scientists put effective conservation plans in place to help species.

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 Seawatchers (Denmark)
The Seawatchers (DK) 31,000 civilians have voluntarily signed up to help the Royal Danish Navy protect Danish waters and coasts. The Seawatchers know where and how to report oil sightings, and they contribute to keeping the coast clean of marine litter. Occasionally, they report observations of, for example, rare animal species to scientific institutions

The Shark Trust Angling Project (Uk and Ireland)
Anglers are uniquely placed to record a wide range of information on sharks, skates and rays, improving our understanding of their movements and population trends. In time, this could feed into more effective management of commercial fisheries and protection of those species under greatest threat.

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!

Zegen in de delta (The Netherlands)
RAVON onderzoekt de kraamkamerfunctie van de Zuid-Hollandse delta vanuit het project “Een Zegen in de Delta”. Zo brengen we in kaart welke jonge vissen gebruik maken van welke gebieden en welke eisen ze stellen aan hun opgroeigebied. Een belangrijk onderdeel van het project is om te kijken óf en hoe de samenstelling van de visgemeenschap en de kraamkamerfunctie verandert nu de Haringvlietsluizen op een kier staan en er weer zout water het Haringvliet in mag stromen. Onderaan deze pagina is een videoserie te vinden over dit project.

Федерация Зелени Балкани (The Balkans)
Проучванията на китоподобните в акваторията на България са малко и наличните данни за разпространение, численост, сезонна динамика, миграции, предпочитани зони, са изключително оскъдни. Събирането на всякаква информация от наблюденията на тези видове и създаването на национална база данни е изключително важно за запълване на научната празнота. Това ще бъде основата за набелязване на конкретни мерки за опазването на тези морски бозайници. Ако живеете по Черноморското крайбрежие или работата Ви е свързана с редовно плаване в Черно море можете да помогнете в нашата мисия по проучване и опазване на делфините. Всяка помощ макар и малка е добре дошла и полезна!



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