Funded through Defra’s Marine and Fisheries Research and Development Programme, the initiative will help shape a stronger and more connected future for marine citizen science across England. Through a program of stakeholder engagement, workshops, and community consultation, DASSH and Natural England will work with citizen science schemes, researchers, policymakers, and marine stakeholders to co-design new resources and opportunities that enhance the value and impact of marine citizen science.
A major focus of the project will be the development of a new Marine Citizen Science Hub, creating a central space where projects, volunteers, and organizations can access guidance, share experiences, and connect with others across the marine citizen science community. Alongside this, a new bursary scheme will provide targeted support to help citizen science initiatives strengthen their activities, improve data quality, enhance participation, and increase their contribution to the UK’s marine evidence base.
Marine citizen science plays an increasingly important role in monitoring environmental change, supporting conservation efforts, and generating valuable evidence for decision-making. By investing in community-led monitoring and strengthening connections between citizen science projects and policy needs, the initiative aims to unlock new opportunities for marine data collection and public engagement.
The project will build on the foundations established by the Marine Citizen Science Network and seek to ensure that citizen science insights are better connected to environmental management, marine planning, and conservation priorities. Input from the marine community will be central to the program, helping to shape resources and support mechanisms that meet the needs of both established and emerging citizen science initiatives.
Dan Lear, Head of Data & Information at the Marine Biological Association and DASSH Programme Lead, said: “Marine citizen science makes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the marine environment, while also creating meaningful opportunities for people to engage with the ocean. Through this partnership with Natural England, we have an opportunity to work directly with the community to identify what support is needed, strengthen existing networks, and help ensure that citizen science data can play an even greater role in informing marine management and conservation.”
Chloe Figueroa Ashforth, Data Manager at the MBA and Marine Citizen Science Network Secretariat, said:
“This is an exciting moment for the Marine Citizen Science Network. We want to create opportunities for projects of all sizes to contribute, share knowledge, and learn from one another. The development of the new hub and bursary scheme will help strengthen collaboration across the sector and support groups to maximize their impact for people, science, and the marine environment.”
Further information about the project and opportunities to get involved will be shared through the Marine Citizen Science Network and MBA communication channels over the coming months.
