MPA4Change is promoting marine citizen science as one of the pillars to support MPAs to face climate change. In this framework, OdM Climate, an exciting initiative led by Observadores del Mar, is inviting divers to take part in crucial climate change research across the Mediterranean. With over 40 dive centres and 400 divers involved, this initiative offers a unique opportunity to contribute to real scientific research while exploring the beauty of the ocean. Join the movement and make a difference under the waves!
MPA4Change is promoting marine citizen science as one of the pillars to support MPAs to face climate change. Additionally, the MPA4Change toolkit on marine citizen science that soon will be available through this website and for which different training sessions will be provided, is based in Observadores del Mar (OdM) platform, led by the CSIC.
Observadores del Mar – Marine citizen science for climate change and ocean conservation
Marine citizen science provides a unique opportunity to monitor, raise awareness and enhance participatory approaches to face climate change. Observadores del Mar is Spain’s leading marine citizen science platform dedicated to ocean conservation with more than a decade of activity.
Diver taking notes – Photo by ICM/CSIC
This platform counts with 17 scientific projects with expert scientific teams behind (comprising more than 100 scientists from more than 40 research institutions) and has consolidated a community of more than 6,000 observers and over 500 organizations. It focuses on providing high-quality data to support evidence-based solutions across 5 main topics: biodiversity, climate change, vulnerable species, exotic species, and marine litter, which are covered with different scientific project such as Climate Fish, Coral Alert, Jellyfish Alert, and Seagrass Meadows, among others.
Through these projects, during 2024, Observadores del Mar is implementing the OdM Climate initiative that consists in tracking climate change in the Mediterranean Spanish coasts engaging the collaboration of diving centers operating in several MPAs.
About OdM Climate
The OdM Climate is promoting a unique approach to data collection, which follows a Tour format with multiple dates and locations across the Mediterranean. This format provides a flexible and immersive experience, allowing divers to participate in different monitoring projects at different times. Whether a diver is interested in documenting the presence of fish related to water temperature rise, counting coral colonies for a mortality assessment, reporting jellyfish blooms, or tracking the reproduction of Posidonia oceanica, they can tailor their participation to suit their interests.
The dive center’s staff have been trained by Observadores del Mar scientific teams and therefore, they are equipped to collect scientific data autonomously while also incorporating climate change monitoring activities into their dive offerings for clients. As a result, OdM Climate is not only helping to collect crucial and rigorous data, but also fostering a new awareness of environmental stewardship within the diving community.
OdM Climate engaged + 40 dive centers and + 400 divers that carried out +500 dives between June and November 2024 resulting in a wealth data collection including +300 new census and thousands of records. The ultimate goal of OdM Climate aims to build a citizen science-based comprehensive dataset to monitor the effects of climate change in the Mediterranean over the long term. The OdM Climate activities provide a unique opportunity to Mediterranean MPAs to enhance the adaptation to face climate change.
By bringing together scientific research and public concern for the well-being of marine ecosystems, Observadores del Mar and the OdM Climate initiative create an exciting opportunity to Mediterranean MPAs to enhance the adaptation to face climate change. As the Mediterranean faces growing threats from warming waters, this initiative is a crucial step toward protecting its rich biodiversity for future generations. In this context MPA4Change will promote the adoption of the OdM Climate design in different Mediterranean countries.
