Citizen Science Transforms Ocean Research

Volunteer divers, beach walkers, and boaters are contributing massive amounts of data to ocean science, from tracking coral health to monitoring water quality. Blue Ocean News profiles the movement empowering ordinary people to advance marine conservation.

Smartphone apps make it easy for anyone to report sightings, take photos, and upload data. Scientists tap into networks of thousands of observers to track changes over vast areas impossible to monitor with limited research budgets.

This story highlights successful citizen science projects and explores how professional researchers are integrating community observations into their work, creating new models for ocean research and conservation.