SEAtizens Watch

The application aims to record and collect valuable data on marine species and visible forms of pollution in surface waters (e.g. floating solid waste and discarded nets, spots, oil spills, grey water, etc.) while at the same time it will contribute to the awareness and active contribution of the project target groups and the general public to the protection of the marine environment. In particular, by using this application, anyone on board a vessel can photograph marine protected species and/or pollution hotspots and upload them to the respective project database. The application has the ability to give the location of the point from which the photo was taken, in order to identify each Marine Area and the exact geographical coordinates of the incident captured in the photo. This application offers a simple tool, even for someone with no particular familiarity with technology, to integrate this process into a collaborative effort to collect data potentially usable for the advancement of science and knowledge, the protection of marine life and the prevention/response of pollution, with the valuable awareness, on the part of the user, that their photos are not just photos, but important records that can contribute to the preservation of the environment. In short, the above application functions as a modern Citizen Science tool. The data collected either in relation to pollution hotspots or protected species will be used through synergies with other relevant programs, institutions, but also for the submission of possible future proposals, interventions, etc.