Citizen Scientists Count! Does It Matter Who Is in Charge?

Diver-based underwater surveys are essential for the implementation and evaluation of many marine restoration, conservation or management projects. Volunteer citizen scientists are involved in several underwater marine... [ view full abstract ]

Diver-based underwater surveys are essential for the implementation and evaluation of many marine restoration, conservation or management projects. Volunteer citizen scientists are involved in several underwater marine biological surveys in California. These surveys present a unique set of organizational, logistical and cost challenge. We will compare and contrast three different programs conducted in Southern California in which citizen scientists performed diver-based marine monitoring: 1. Catalina Conservancy Divers (CCD), a support group of the Catalina Island Conservancy conducting Key Species Surveys; 2. California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA), conducting a Southern California Kelp Restoration Project; 3. Reef Check California (RCCA), conducting statewide rocky reef monitoring. These programs are structured according to three different operational models: CCD is a volunteer managed and staffed program with minimal institutional involvement; CCKA is a time-limited project led by paid staff; RCCA is an ongoing monitoring program led by paid staff. We will share experiences from a volunteer as well as staff perspective in the areas of volunteer training, volunteer retention, volunteer involvement and discuss data management. Some of the key lessons from this comparison are that (1) volunteer run programs can be successful and that keeping the project simple is key to continued volunteer participation. (2) A defined end date of a project does not impact volunteer participation. (3) Institutional support and paid staff are needed for projects with complex monitoring protocols and larger regional scope.