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There may be more than 695 billion living things in Aotearoa, but some of the rarest need our help. DOC is calling on New Zealanders to “Always be Naturing” with two powerful new citizen science tools that make marine conservation easy, wherever you are.
SeaSpotter and Spyfish Aotearoa apps are fun, simple ways to turn everyday moments, whether at the beach, in the office, or at home, into action for nature.
Department of Conservation marine technical advisor Hannah Hendriks says everyone can contribute. “From identifying fish at your desk, to snapping photos of seals on the beach or spotting Māui dolphins while you surf, you can be taking action for nature. It’s about finding those small moments in daily life to connect with and care for the environment.”
Citizen science app SeaSpotter makes it easy to upload photos and videos of marine mammals such as whales, dolphins and seals. Sightings contribute to an open-source platform directly supporting research and conservation efforts for marine mammals.
The application was developed by conservation technology not-for-profit MAUI63, with DOC, WWF-New Zealand, MPI, and others.
Co-founder and CEO of MAUI63 Charitable Trust, Tane van der Boon, says the trust is passionate about using technology to help everyone better understand and protect marine animals.
“We’re super excited about SeaSpotter and how it will turn everyday kiwis into citizen scientists.”
Tane says the app gives the community a chance to get involved.
“Collecting data will help scientists and researchers track and protect marine mammals like the threatened southern right whale. The more people involved, the better the data and the greater impact it will have.’’
Marine mammals in New Zealand waters range from permanent residents, like Hector’s and Māui dolphins, to migratory visitors that travel thousands of kilometres to feed or breed here.
Hannah says New Zealanders have the opportunity to make their beach culture count for nature. “We love to visit the coast – and we have the privilege of sharing it with dolphins, whales, and seals in their natural environments,” says Hannah.
“Every sighting helps us better understand where rare species live and how to protect them. With 695 billion reasons to care, SeaSpotter turns everyday encounters into conservation action.”
For days when the coast is a wistful memory, the Spyfish Aotearoa project is designed to bring marine life into offices, homes, and classrooms.
Launched in partnership with Wildlife.AI via the Zooniverse platform, Spyfish Aotearoa invites people to watch short clips of underwater footage from New Zealand marine reserves and identify fish species. Outputs contribute directly to real scientific research – helping scientists focus their time on trend analysis and conservation planning.
“Spending five minutes of a meeting counting fish together is a calming, collaborative activity which just happens to help nature. You don’t need to be a scientist. You just need a few minutes, a screen, and some curiosity and it’s surprisingly relaxing,” says DOC marine ecosystems senior technical advisor Dr. Monique Ladds.
Both apps are part of a growing movement to use citizen science for marine protection. Whether in the office or out on the water, Hannah says there’s a role for everyone in caring for the oceans.
“When thousands of people take small actions – from logging a dolphin sighting, to identifying a blue cod on screen, we create a powerful wave of support for the future of our marine ecosystems,” says Hannah.
“Always be Naturing is about exactly that: making nature part of everyday life, and taking those small, meaningful actions that add up to big change.”
