PROJECTS /
Marine Metre²
Project Summary
Collaboration tracking changes to the seashore over time
Photo Credit / Joshua McCormack
DIGITAL TOOL POWERS UP POPULAR CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
With rapid change being observed in marine ecosystems around Aotearoa New Zealand, connecting communities and young people with their local coastline can empower them to act as ocean champions for their seashore and the life in it. Marine metre² is a popular citizen science project widely used by school children to survey a square metre of seashore collecting data that’s valuable to scientists. Now, in a first-of-its kind digital integration, Marine Metre² users can easily create interactive 3D models of their survey sites, helping school children and communities to investigate and record their local seashore and track how it’s changing over time. These 3D models are created using photogrammetry – a cutting-edge tool developed and used by scientists to efficiently survey our underwater realm in detail.
“New Zealand could have the best understood seashore of any country”
Sally Carson
University of Otago
The digital upgrade came about through a partnership involving Marine metre² founder Sally Carson (Director of the NZ Marine Studies Centre, University of Otago), and ‘Seascape’ creators James Frankham (Publisher of New Zealand Geographic) and Dr Arie Spyksma (Marine Science Research Fellow, University of Auckland).
The data collected through Marine metre² is now more accessible than ever, thanks to a collaboration with the widely used Australasian biodiversity database, BioCollect. It means Marine metre² surveys can contribute to scientific research both across New Zealand and globally.
MARINE METRE²
AT A GLANCE
of New Zealand coastline surveyed
species can be found along New Zealand’s seashore
schools involved
OUR IMPACT
By being freely available for budding and experienced scientists, schools and organisations to monitor marine ecosystem change, communities across Aotearoa can support the ambition is for New Zealand to have the most understood seashore of any nation.
“Marine Metre² is a much-loved citizen science project and it just got digital superpowers. Live Ocean’s mission is to scale up science, innovation and outreach for a healthy ocean. This project has all those qualities – science to understand, world-class innovation and outreach that is available for anyone to use.” Sally Paterson – Chief Executive, Live Ocean Foundation
Timeline
2013
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Dr Kath Walker and Dr Graeme Elliott’s first expedition to the Antipodes islands, these research trips continue for nearly 30 years (barring 2006) giving an incredibly robust data set.
2006
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Dr Kath Walker and Dr Graeme Elliott’s first expedition to the Antipodes islands, these research trips continue for nearly 30 years (barring 2006) giving an incredibly robust data set.
2019
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Dr Kath Walker and Dr Graeme Elliott’s first expedition to the Antipodes islands, these research trips continue for nearly 30 years (barring 2006) giving an incredibly robust data set.
2020
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Dr Kath Walker and Dr Graeme Elliott’s first expedition to the Antipodes islands, these research trips continue for nearly 30 years (barring 2006) giving an incredibly robust data set.
2024
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Dr Kath Walker and Dr Graeme Elliott’s first expedition to the Antipodes islands, these research trips continue for nearly 30 years (barring 2006) giving an incredibly robust data set.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Help New Zealand have the best understood seashore in the world by visiting your local seashore and carrying out your own Marine Metre² survey.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Dr Sally Carson
Director, New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
Sally is a Canadian marine biologist and the director of the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre at the University of Otago. In 2013, Sally designed Marine Metre², a national citizen science project to involve members of the public in the long term monitoring of the New Zealand seashore.
She has written a range of educational resources for primary and intermediate school students, as well as a series of identification guides to the plants and animals which inhabit New Zealand’s seashores.
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