Beach Watch is Recruiting for 2027! Click on Get Involved (tab above)
Beach Watch: Over Three Decades of Coastal Monitoring
Why this group of volunteers has been studying the CA shoreline for the last 30 years (click this link)
Established in 1993 by Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Beach Watch is one of the nation’s longest-running volunteer shoreline monitoring programs. Managed by Greater Farallones Association, the program brings together dedicated, trained volunteers who conduct year-round surveys along the coast within Greater Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries.
During regular surveys of assigned beaches, volunteers document live and dead seabirds and marine mammals, record human activities, identify potential environmental threats, and help detect oil pollution. Their observations contribute to an invaluable long-term dataset that helps scientists and sanctuary managers understand changing coastal conditions and respond to emerging threats.
As NOAA’s first volunteer monitoring program, Beach Watch is a longstanding partnership between Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Greater Farallones Association. Together, they have supported coastal conservation for more than three decades through::
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Long-term wildlife monitoring: Documenting live and dead seabirds and marine mammals, along with human activities, to track coastal ecosystem conditions over time.
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Early detection of environmental threats: Identifying unusual wildlife mortality events, oil pollution, and other natural or human-caused disturbances.
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Emergency response: Maintaining a trained network of volunteers who can assist with shoreline assessments and oil spill response.
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Education and stewardship: Inspiring people to understand better, appreciate, and protect their coastal environment.
For more than three decades, Beach Watch volunteers have demonstrated the value of community science in understanding and protecting our changing coast.
Sleuthing for the sea: Beach Watch citizen science program celebrates 25 years (read the article)
Photo Credit: NOAA
Interested in Volunteering for Beach Watch? Click on the “GET INVOLVED” tab above