OdM Climate from Observadores del Mar has been awarded the runner-up prize in the “Citizen Science Projects” category at the third edition of the CSIC Scientific Outreach and Citizen Science Awards. It is a network for monitoring changes in the Mediterranean Sea, which has already succeeded in involving over 500 divers and 33 dive centers from northern Catalonia to Ceuta. The jury highlighted the project’s maturity, its multidisciplinary vision, and its ability to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation.

Observadores del Mar is a citizen science platform that invites the public, especially those more closely connected to the sea, to contribute to data collection on the state of marine ecosystems. The goal is for citizen observations to provide information complementary to that obtained directly by scientific teams—having “more eyes” to record what happens in the marine environment. At the same time, the initiative raises awareness and builds alliances in the appreciation and protection of the sea. The platform is coordinated by experts from various research centers, including CEAB-CSIC.

How to collaborate is by choosing one or more of the ongoing projects and providing the types of observations each requires: photographs, data, and other information that are then verified by experts and help generate knowledge about biodiversity, the arrival of invasive species, the condition of seagrass meadows, or human impacts on ecosystems.

OdM Climate: the initiative now awarded

The project that received the CSIC award is a network monitoring climate change in the Mediterranean that involves about five hundred divers and around thirty dive clubs from northern Catalonia to Ceuta. Through periodic observations carried out by specialized volunteers, data are collected on temperature, the distribution of species sensitive to thermal change, and other physical and biological parameters that allow trends and anomalies in the marine ecosystem to be detected. This citizen science approach enables coverage of wide areas and varied timeframes, which would be difficult to achieve only through the direct work of scientific teams.

How can I become an Observador del Mar?

Just follow these steps:

• Register on the platform: visit the Observadores del Mar website and create an account

• Select the project(s): explore the variety of projects (Submarine Deserts, Ghost Nets, Exotic Species, Seabirds, Seagrass Meadows…) and choose which to collaborate on

• Training and resources: review the instructions provided by each project, including identification guides, protocols for data or photo collection, and recording criteria

• Observations: take advantage of visits to the coast or dives to focus on what each project asks to document (for example, photographing and measuring an area of algae that is becoming exposed). Then upload the photographs and information as requested through the digital platform (specifying location and time of observation is always very important)

The data collected by Observadores del Mar contribute to scientific studies, conservation reports, and management policies. They also promote scientific culture among the public and foster a deep awareness of the importance of marine ecosystems.