New app encourages citizen science

 

A new app will allow users to document sitings of megafauna, such as whales.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is enlisting citizen help for identifying and documenting marine megafauna. The department has developed a new mobile app, called Ocean Alert, that will help BOEM plan offshore energy and mineral development “in ways that lessen the potential impacts to species such as sea turtles, sharks and whales and their habitats.”

Citizens can use the app to upload images, document sightings and provide other species information which will be used by resources managers. Find out more at the BOEM website.