Clean Coasts Observer
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.
Upcoming Clean Coasts Observer Events
The Big Beach Clean Marine Litter Survey
The Big Beach Clean took place between 15th to the 17th of September 2023. It is an annual call to action organised as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy. This annual call to action is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy. The event usually unites more than 20 million people in 180 countries, who come together to tackle litter.
For this call to action, communities and volunteers around the country remove litter from the Irish coastline and get involved in a worldwide citizen science project by recording and counting the litter you find on Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards.
Taking the time to identify and count litter found on our coastline is important, it gives an indication of the scale of the marine litter issue and helps us to identify the types of activities and industries that create the most common litter items.
In return we can create campaigns to help eliminate these items from our environment and assist policy change.
To find out more, click here: BIG BEACH CLEAN
Clean Coasts Observer Events
Explore Your Shore! in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre
For the past number of years we have been working with the National Biodiversity Data Centre to promote the Explore Your Shore! project to our Clean Coasts community. Explore Your Shore! is an ongoing Citizen Science project that aims to document the rich diversity of Ireland’s marine wildlife by encouraging the general public to take species recordings along the coast. Past events include, a 4-part online introductory course to the project and coastal species, and numerous fieldtrips led by Data Centre’s Citizen Science Officer, Dave Wall. The aim of these trips is to carry out Explore Your Shore! training and guide volunteers on what to look out for along the coast. The fieldtrips are ongoing and if you are Clean Coasts Volunteer or Observer we will keep you updated on any upcoming events in your region.
Find out more
For more information on Explore Your Shore! see www.exploreyourshore.ie or visit our Facebook page @ExploreYourShore
For more on Ireland’s Marine Biodiversity see HERE.
If you would like to connect with us and discuss partnering on a citizen science study or project you are involved in please email ccobservers@eeu.antaisce.org