BIODIVERSITY
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS MONITOR REEF HEALTH
GREAT BARRIER REEF, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Photo: Chad Taylor
As climate changes affect oceans, scientists are monitoring water temperature changes to track the health of underwater ecosystems. With the vast expanse of reefs around the world, no single entity can track all the changes and inform the work to tackle challenges resulting from warming waters.
What's
changing
As climate changes affect oceans, scientists are monitoring variations in water temperature to track the health of underwater ecosystems. With the vast expanse of reefs around the world, no single entity can track all the reefs and inform the work addressing warming waters.
What's already
possible
In Queensland, a program called “Eye on the Reef” uses real-time data from residents and visitors to monitor the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Because the reef covers an area roughly the size of Italy, it is impossible to extensively monitor its health without the help of citizen science.
Seizing
the opportunity
Information collected by tour operators, residents and visitors aid scientists in their research into reef health. The program’s most accessible tool is its free “Eye on the Reef” app used to document wildlife sightings, flag invasive species and report pollution. Short training modules allow anyone to become a qualified reef surveyor. Surveyors record health assessments of reef areas and report them to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).
Standout
tactic
Tour operators associated with the program submit regular reports to the GBRMPA. The survey information they collect covers the presence of certain species and reef health indicators on specific portions of the reef so changes can be monitored over time. These health reports feed weekly video updates that summarize data from across the reef.
How
it helps
During the southern hemisphere's summer from December 2023 to March 2024, participants submitted 8,300 surveys about 273 reefs through the app. The 30-year-old program has compiled massive amounts of data that would otherwise not be available to the management authority, scientists or the public.
Diving
deeper
Do monitoring programs like “Eye on the Reef” potentially distract from taking more direct and immediate conservation actions? While gathering data is crucial for informed decision-making, it is important to consider how these monitoring efforts might delay or detract from implementing necessary measures to address the urgent threats facing reef ecosystems.
Increasing
impact
Programs similar to “Eye on the Reef” are found in many places where people rely on reef ecosystems for food, livelihoods and cultural connections. By compiling data collected worldwide into one database, scientists could gain a comprehensive understanding of overall ocean health, shedding light on the interconnected nature of ocean ecosystems.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
