GET INVOLVED

Citizen Science

Help build a clearer picture of change across the Great Southern Reef.

why citizen science matters

Citizen science gives people across the Great Southern Reef a direct role in monitoring marine life, habitats and environmental change. From photographing seadragons and tracking kelp to recording unusual species and helping restore habitat, community observations can contribute valuable information to research and management.

every observation can add to the picture

Find a project

there’s more than one way to contribute

Whether you’re a diver, beachcomber, photographer or simply curious about the coast, there’s a citizen science project you can take part in.

Species & Wildlife

A community-based research initiative with a mission to collect data about wild seadragon populations across Australia using underwater photography.

Submit your photos →

Seadragon Search

This project, funded by Deakin University and by the Victorian Government through the Port Phillip Bay Fund initiative, has been created to collect data on Australian great spider crabs and their aggregations.

Add your observation→

Spider crab watch

This project invites Australians to share sightings of marine species that are ‘uncommon’ to their local seas.

Log a Sighting →

REDMAP

Monitoring wild seadragon populations across Australia through community involvement

Learn how to participate →

Sea slug Census

Monitoring wild seadragon populations across Australia through community involvement

Learn more about this project →

Great Egg Case Hunt

Habitat & Reef Health

This project invites ocean users to share their recent and historical sightings of the endangered and disappearing giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) across Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia.

Submit your photos →

Kelp Tracker

Reef Life Survey is a non-profit citizen science program in which trained SCUBA divers undertake standardised underwater visual surveys of reef biodiversity on rocky and coral reefs around the world.

Find a current project →

Reef Life Survey

This project is looking at how dive sites have changed through time based on information captured in the photographs and videos of divers.

Contribute your photos →

In bygone dives

Restoration & Stewardship

Join a community of volunteers who share our determination to restore and rebuild fish habitat across Australia.

Learn about a restoration project near you →

Seeds for Snapper

Citizen science initiatives are a key tool in the fight against marine debris. You can contribute valuable data that helps track debris and understand its sources and movements. This data is crucial for informing policy and creating effective waste management.

Join a clean up →

Clean ups

help us grow the directory

know a citizen science project?

Citizen science is happening right across the Great Southern Reef. If you run, participate in or know of a project that should be featured here, we’d love to hear about it.

Join Our Community

Sign up to our monthly newsletter to receive the latest updates from around the GSR.