Monitoring Methods & Data Sharing

To develop an understanding of the extent of marine biological invasions in
a region and to become immediately aware of new invaders requires a substantial commitment of time and effort. No single or combined state, regional or federal agency can mount this effort. Therefore, the people who live, work, and play along the coastline are being called upon to become the eyes on the water. Land-based invasive plant programs have successfully involved citizen volunteers in data collection and invasive species eradication for many years. However, involving volunteers in marine biological invasion research and detection is relatively new.

Therefore, Salem Sound Coastwatch has been developing methods and protocols for monitoring marine invasive species along the New England coast, with the assistance of Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. A Citizen's Guide to Monitoring Marine Invasive Species was written to provide the information necessary to become a member of a volunteer monitoring team or to initiate a marine invasive species monitoring program for citizen scientists and students, more information than can be included on this web site.

For a monitor’s volunteer time to be well spent, it is critical that the data collected be shared with the appropriate agencies, resource managers, and scientists. Learn more about how data is shared

If you want training to become a MIS monitor on the North Shore, check out Salem Sound Coastwatch's calendar for the next training or email info@salemsound.org.

GOALS OF Monitoring Efforts

Volunteer Monitors

· Identify native and introduced species at an evaluation area
· Document pertinent environmental data
· Report new marine introduced species

Regional Coordinating Organization

· Analyze data for extent of biological invasions and range expansions
· Send data to regional database(s)
· Share insights with volunteers and the public