Citizen science is a tool that uses the collective efforts of ordinary people to contribute to scientific data collection. Although a new term, people have been contributing to science for a long time. Cape RADD utilizes citizen science to collect data while fostering a love for our ocean.
One of the earliest examples of citizen science is the Christmas Bird Count. In 1900, the National Audubon Society sponsored a bird count. This ran from December 14th to January 5th each year in the US and Canada. This census was used to inform bird conservation efforts.
With the availability of the internet and new technologies, citizen science has been able to take a new form. It is accessible to a much wider group of people. More and more exciting projects are emerging for people to contribute to. Participants can learn more about the scientific processes and the natural world, and scientists can reduce the limitations and costs associated with data collection.
At CapeRADD we believe citizen science can make a big difference. Fostering public interest in science can have many positive impacts. It can build a sense of community and collaboration among participants encouraging a sense of purpose and connection to the environment. Participants often become advocates for science and environmental conservation, increasing awareness for the wider cause of our research. The use of new technology and citizen science can lead to new innovative approaches and solutions to data collection and analysis that would be difficult with traditional scientific methods. Something we have seen happen within our doors with the Fin Spotter project. Most importantly the data collected will go towards making a change for the better, it can influence public policy and conservation efforts by providing evidence for environmental changes, pollution levels or biodiversity loss.
Fin Spotter is our very own citizen science project. It is a database of shark encounters that we use to estimate and monitor the size of the population for 4 main species of shark the Puffadder Shy Shark, Dark Shy Shark, Pyjama Catshark and Leopard Catshark. Using state-of-the-art machine learning and computer vision to identify the species in the image, we can match individuals you see against our database, track specific individuals and make assumptions about the population size of these animals. Population studies like this are vital to understanding the health of our oceans. Contributing to the Fin Spotter project is as easy as three simple steps and can be done on any snorkel or dive in the False Bay area.
1: Take a photo
- Top-down photos are the best! Try to fill the frame with as many details of the pattern as possible. Get as close as you can without harassing the animal.
2: Submit it.
- Use our Fin Spotter form to upload your image and encounter information to the database
3: Get notified
- We will let you know when your shark is spotted again with an automated email. Check-in to keep up to date on the happenings of your shark.
Do you want to become a marine biologist for the day?
We offer lots of exciting opportunities for you to get involved with the science we do here at CapeRADD. The “Snorkel for Science” program invites everyday individuals to take part in marine conservation by assisting in collecting data on fish and sharks in False Bay. You can join our marine biologists for a guided snorkel and search for unique species like our shysharks and catsharks. You get a briefing on the biodiversity and ecosystem of False Bay and the objectives of the trip. Snorkellers will assist in spotting and photographing sharks to submit to Fin Spotter. Then, our team will do the tricky part of making population estimates and movement tracking. This trip is designed to perfectly balance of scientific value and fun.
If you’re an open water diver or higher and want to put your SCUBA diving skill to a good cause CapeRADD’s “SCUBA for Science” may be perfect for you. Swim with us within the kelp forest to search for sharks. Divers will assist with spotting and photographing sharks and their patterns to submit to Fin Spotter. The shysharks and catsharks are bottom-dwelling sharks, so this allows you to swim alongside these amazing animals.
As someone who has assisted on the “Snorkel for Science”, I can personally say it is a wonderful experience and something everyone should do. It has been a joy to be part of this project and to contribute something to an area I feel very passionately about. Everyone I have taken out on citizen science projects has always come back with a positive outlook on the experience and feels very connected to the sharks of False Bay.
Join one of our trips:
Learn more:
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/citizen-science-article/#