Citizen Science: An Uncut Diamond for Marine Monitoring
(2022) EOSK12 20221Department of Economic History
- Abstract
- The marine environment is a vital resource protecting our ecosystem and a critical part of the wellbeing of our planet. Marine Strategy Planning (MSP) is essential for conservation and protection of marine monitoring systems and governments should constantly improve their strategies and aim for increased effectiveness of these systems. This thesis focuses on marine conservation in Sweden and reviews how it could be improved using the concept of citizen science (CS). It presents CS as a promising monitoring method that has gained large momentum recently, and more specifically it describes it as a scientific research method used for monitoring where citizens contribute by collecting or reviewing data. The research investigates the... (More)
- The marine environment is a vital resource protecting our ecosystem and a critical part of the wellbeing of our planet. Marine Strategy Planning (MSP) is essential for conservation and protection of marine monitoring systems and governments should constantly improve their strategies and aim for increased effectiveness of these systems. This thesis focuses on marine conservation in Sweden and reviews how it could be improved using the concept of citizen science (CS). It presents CS as a promising monitoring method that has gained large momentum recently, and more specifically it describes it as a scientific research method used for monitoring where citizens contribute by collecting or reviewing data. The research investigates the effectiveness of CS by analyzing and comparing two different Swedish monitoring cases, one of which uses citizens in its methodology. Both projects survey bottom fauna and create habitat mapping for the seafloor, however, only one includes CS and the project is categorized as a traditional monitoring method. In addition, the thesis examines government reports and evaluates described suggestions in the field of marine monitoring and evaluates recommendations for potential changes in their execution. The results of the thesis indicate that CS is suitable for projects of a more simple nature where execution requires simple instructions and low marine monitoring skills. However, findings indicate that CS is not as applicable in more complex contexts and therefore it is concluded that as a method it does not complement all monitoring projects. On the contrary it indicates that CS could complicate the execution and create less reliable results in such contexts. Interestingly, findings indicate that CS drives positive complementary effects and for example it could increase awareness of marine environmental issues in areas where it is applied. Furthermore, CS could potentially contribute to innovation and streamline marine resource management in Sweden. Nonetheless, CS is a new method and it appears to require additional development to induce major benefits. To conclude, in more simple contexts where large datasets are required, there appears to be potential for CS in Sweden’s marine strategy. Nonetheless, it does not illustrate effectiveness when included in all contexts of marine monitoring projects. Given today’s rapid development of tech-enabling research methods, in combination with increased interest for marine environments in both the eyes of researchers and citizens, it is likely that CS methods will continue to develop and gain larger attention in the future. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9093903
- author
- Ridderbjelke, Felicia LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- EOSK12 20221
- year
- 2022
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Keywords: Citizen Science, Marine Monitoring, Marine Conservation, Biological Observations, Open Science, MPA, MSP, Performance Indicators.
- language
- English
- id
- 9093903
- date added to LUP
- 2022-09-15 13:14:34
- date last changed
- 2022-09-15 13:14:34
@misc{9093903,
abstract = {{The marine environment is a vital resource protecting our ecosystem and a critical part of the wellbeing of our planet. Marine Strategy Planning (MSP) is essential for conservation and protection of marine monitoring systems and governments should constantly improve their strategies and aim for increased effectiveness of these systems. This thesis focuses on marine conservation in Sweden and reviews how it could be improved using the concept of citizen science (CS). It presents CS as a promising monitoring method that has gained large momentum recently, and more specifically it describes it as a scientific research method used for monitoring where citizens contribute by collecting or reviewing data. The research investigates the effectiveness of CS by analyzing and comparing two different Swedish monitoring cases, one of which uses citizens in its methodology. Both projects survey bottom fauna and create habitat mapping for the seafloor, however, only one includes CS and the project is categorized as a traditional monitoring method. In addition, the thesis examines government reports and evaluates described suggestions in the field of marine monitoring and evaluates recommendations for potential changes in their execution. The results of the thesis indicate that CS is suitable for projects of a more simple nature where execution requires simple instructions and low marine monitoring skills. However, findings indicate that CS is not as applicable in more complex contexts and therefore it is concluded that as a method it does not complement all monitoring projects. On the contrary it indicates that CS could complicate the execution and create less reliable results in such contexts. Interestingly, findings indicate that CS drives positive complementary effects and for example it could increase awareness of marine environmental issues in areas where it is applied. Furthermore, CS could potentially contribute to innovation and streamline marine resource management in Sweden. Nonetheless, CS is a new method and it appears to require additional development to induce major benefits. To conclude, in more simple contexts where large datasets are required, there appears to be potential for CS in Sweden’s marine strategy. Nonetheless, it does not illustrate effectiveness when included in all contexts of marine monitoring projects. Given today’s rapid development of tech-enabling research methods, in combination with increased interest for marine environments in both the eyes of researchers and citizens, it is likely that CS methods will continue to develop and gain larger attention in the future.}},
author = {{Ridderbjelke, Felicia}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Citizen Science: An Uncut Diamond for Marine Monitoring}},
year = {{2022}},
}