Citizens of the Sea
A citizen science project that enables seafarers to collect eDNA from the ocean at scale
Background
Environmental DNA (eDNA) collection revolutionises how we understand and protect our oceans by detecting genetic traces left by marine life in water.
This means we can identify which species are present in the ocean and in what quantity—a key indicator of ocean health that is particularly impactful when measured over time.
Project details
Citizens of the Sea provides seafarers with an easy-to-use toolkit, personalised support and a collaborative community of like-minded ocean advocates, which enables eDNA collection to be done at scale.
We are a charitable trust, formed in November 2024 to mobilise and equip seafarers to generate valuable and accessible ocean data to support ocean heath.
We are supported by a Scientific Advisory Panel, made up of internationally renowned scientists, who guide and support our scientific programmes. Our scientific delivery partner (also our founding partner), the Cawthron Institute in Nelson, is Aotearoa’s largest independent science organisation and a specialist in this field.
What they hope to achieve
We secure sampling permits, develop partnerships with local stakeholders, manage logistics, engage with communities, and produce high quality open access marine biodiversity data.
Our trustees and team are sailors, scientists, communicators and adventurers. We are all here because we are excited about the opportunity to build our charity and make significant international impact.
Engagement opportunities
Resource
