Citizen Science

eOceans combines the observations and experiences of the global community of ocean explorers to address real-world questions. 

We completed a comprehensive investigation on the value of recreational scuba divers observations to describe marine animal populations, and have combined citizen science data with other information to fill important data gaps. 

We have used event-based censuses (e.g., where every observation is recorded) to describe:

• how shark populations have changed through time or space
• how shark populations change with human population density
• stingray populations in the Caribbean
• patterns of coastal sharks throughout Asia

And, one-off interview-style surveys to describe:

• the global status and human use patterns of manta ray and shark populations
• evaluate Shark Sanctuary policies
• the value and limitations of diver contributed data
• the biases associated with scientific divers' observations for mobile fish

Our results have influenced policy and management, including:

• manta rays being listed for international trade protections by CITES 
• sharks being listed for international trade protections by CITES
• Shark Sanctuaries