Citizens of the Reef is changing the way we approach reef conservation. This innovative organization blends community effort, artificial intelligence, and marine science to protect our oceans. Their annual Great Reef Census connects thousands of citizen scientists to gather and analyze reef images. This year, they conducted over 320 in-water surveys, surpassing their own record from 2021, and marking the largest census in the project’s history. Since starting in 2020, they’ve surveyed nearly 25% of the Great Barrier Reef.
In 2023 alone, Citizens of the Reef collected pictures from more than 1,300 sites across over 320 reefs, resulting in an impressive 43,000 reef images. This extensive dataset, used by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), supports researchers at the University of Queensland’s Marine Spatial Ecology Lab in their reef management efforts.
Andy Ridley, CEO of Citizens of the Reef, stated, “The Great Reef Census has grown into one of the largest community-driven conservation projects for tropical coral reefs worldwide. Our community is proving to be capable and engaged, supported by AI that helps analyze the reef images. We’re just beginning to understand what this program can achieve.”
A recent study from scientists at the University of Queensland and James Cook University confirms the high quality of the citizen science data gathered. Funded by the National Environmental Science Program (NESP), the research found that their methods achieved a remarkable accuracy of 99% for identifying various types of corals. Importantly, the study also revealed that fewer than 80 images from each site can still yield 95% accuracy in over 95% of cases. This shows how small samples can lead to effective decisions for reef conservation.
By having multiple citizen scientists review each image, the need for many in-water images decreases. This approach reduces the amount of physical work needed while ensuring data reliability. It appears that AI and citizen science can work hand in hand, enhancing conservation efforts without replacing human involvement.
The findings from the Great Reef Census have been invaluable to GBRMPA since 2021, aiding in the management of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) populations across the reef. According to their 2024 Outlook Report, citizen science initiatives like the Great Reef Census have played a significant role in site selection for COTS control efforts.
