In an effort to monitor and protect marine biodiversity, ANERIS has launched a large-scale citizen science initiative to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from coastal waters and sediments. This pilot study, titled ‘eDNA by citizens’, seeks to enhance scientific observation networks with the help of local communities and advanced, low-cost technology.

To align with World Ocean Day, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) is hosting training sessions on June 5 and 14 to prepare participants for a citizen science campaign. These workshops will equip volunteers with the necessary skills to ensure accurate and consistent data collection in support of marine biodiversity monitoring.

Running throughout the second half of June, the campaign mobilises citizen scientists across eight European countries - Sweden, Finland, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Belgium. Participants will use specially developed sampling kits to gather eDNA from seawater and sediments, contributing vital data to genomic research that tracks marine species and ecosystem health.

In Belgium, the initiative is spearheaded by VLIZ, which will coordinate sampling activities across five coastal beaches: De Panne, Middelkerke, Ostend, De Haan, and Heist. Over two days, volunteers will collect water and sediment samples under structured protocols. Each location will involve two teams - one for water and one for sediment - with each team collecting five samples.

Visit the link for calendar with future event:

https://worldoceanday.org/series/e-dna-by-citizens-aneris-citizen-science/