Citizen science plays a key role in data collection on the presence and pathways of litter in the environment, on land, rivers, lakes and the ocean.
Citizen science — active public involvement in scientific research — is advancing; there is a growing stakeholder network of civil society organisations and marine scientists collaborating on professionalising citizen science.
Citizen science contributes to expanding data collection to a wider geographical area. Based on data analysis campaigns can be developed to address specific types of litter found in the monitored area, which contributes to advancing applied science. Citizens engaging in litter clean-ups do not necessarily have the knowledge about scientific methods, monitoring protocols, data analysis and reporting and is met by scepticism by some. Collaboration between citizens and scientists is key.
Cross-border and cross-sector collaboration
During 3 years we participated with O.S.E.A.N , Green Hub Vietnam, ICC Philippines and EASICO on advancing citizen science, monitoring, data collection and campaign development to reduce the impact of marine litter. This project was supported by the Ministry of Fisheries of Republic of Korea and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation.
An initial workshop was conducted by O.S.E.A.N in October 2019 in Labuan Bajo, on Flores island in East Indonesia.
June 2022 EASICO 4-day capacity building workshop hosted by Indonesian Waste Platform in collaboration with PEMSEA, OSEAN Republic of Korea, Green Hub Vietnam, ICC Philippines. Participant included local and provincial government representatives, heads of fishing villages and grass-root organisations : Collective impact approach on reducing Marine Debris – funded by the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries