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The ocean is one of the world’s major reservoirs of biodiversity. In Spain, the different oceanographic and biogeographic conditions and the extraordinary variety of coastal habitats (estuaries, marshes, coastal lagoons, extensive cliff coasts, beaches and island groups of very variable extension) favor the existence of an enormous diversity of marine flora and fauna. In addition, the waters of the northern Iberian Peninsula are located in a border area that constitutes a real biodiversity hotspot, where we find species typical of temperate waters mixed with more boreal or austral species. In addition, it is home to some unique species associated with the unique areas and some others that migrate from warmer areas as a consequence of global warming.

The main objective of the DIVERSIMAR project is to obtain a tool for the information and monitoring of the biodiversity of the marine area of the Cantabrian Sea and Galicia. This tool is based on an information system that compiles existing information and serves as a source of data to record the changes that are occurring in the seas, as well as allowing access and collaboration of users of the sea, using citizen science.

In addition, this web tool is intended to integrate information on the distribution, biology and ecology of a relevant number of species. Thus, according to the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, the importance of this project lies in the current need to have accessible, standardized and revised information on the distribution of species to help marine users and managers to develop control plans and conservation strategies.

The main objective of the project has been the design, development and implementation of a network for the observation of marine and fishing biodiversity in Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea.

The specific objectives were as follows:

• To obtain a tool for information and monitoring of marine and fisheries biodiversity in Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea.
• Establish a collaboration network with the sectors involved in the marine environment in the area and through citizen science methodologies.

• Collection and organization of available scientific data and development of biological and spatial databases. Thus, on the one hand, data on the biology and ecology of 142 species have been collected and, on the other hand, geo-referenced data on the abundance and distribution of 183 species of fish and cephalopods from scientific campaigns.
• Elaboration of the Biodiversity catalog of the species that inhabit the waters of Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea, in order to facilitate the identification of the species of bony fish, sharks and rays, cephalopods, crustaceans and other invertebrates such as ascidians, holothurians, gastropods or anthozoans, by any interested person. Several data sheets with scientific and photographic information were also designed for each species detected in the study area.
• Definition of a data modelimplementation in an online database, and website development which integrates the “Biodiversity Catalog”, the web map viewer and the mobile application for data collection, as well as the project information and informative resources developed within the framework of the project.
• Development of a species distribution map viewer for the period from 2010 to 2019. for the period from 2010 to 2019.
• Development of a mobile application for capturing and sending observations to be displayed on the viewer. The app is completely free and can be used by both the general public and specialized researchers, allowing them to take photographs and videos, provide comments and automatically detect the position of the observations, which can be manually modified by the user in case it is incorrect. A total of 132 volunteers participated and a total of 187 species were identified.
• Development of a collaborative network of sea users, including fishing associations, fishermen’s associations, recreational fishing, diving, surfing and sailing sports federations, environmental NGOs, scientific organizations, administrations, the educational community and private citizens. Its objective is the coordination and transfer of knowledge among the different agents to improve the sustainability of marine resources and ecosystems. This citizen science platform has included volunteer actions from the fishing sector, a whale watching program in the Bay of Biscay, face-to-face talks aimed at the educational community, collaborations in other scientific projects and programs, etc.
• Dissemination and communication of the project through the celebration of 5 conferences and workshops to present both the project and its final results to different sectors (fishermen, shellfish gatherers, fishmongers in fish markets and markets, divers, surfers, scientific schools and the general public). We also gave 5 environmental education talks in 3 primary schools and 2 secondary schools and participated in more than 10 workshops and seminars organized by other entities. On the other hand, in order to encourage citizen participation, 4 guides have been prepared to learn how to identify the marine species of common fish, flatfish, trolling fish and rays present in the fishing grounds of the Bay of Biscay and Northwest Spain. Thus, it has designed 4 brochures and 2 posters for species identification, which have been distributed both digitally and in paper format. With regard to media dissemination, the following have been elaborated 4 press releases, more than 40 radio interviews, participation in 2 round tables, 4 informative videos about the project and more than 1,270 publications on Twitter. Finally, in order to raise awareness among a more technical audience of the activities related to citizen science, the organization has published 7 items in local and regional specialist press dedicated to digitalization, fishing, diving and sectors whose activities are related to the marine environment, and has participated in 2 scientific congresses.

DIVERSIMAR is a project of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) that compiles scientific information on marine and fisheries biodiversity in the north and northwest of the Iberian Peninsula and whose objective has been to establish an accessible source of scientific data and serve as a basis for studying marine species. In addition, it aims to be a collaborative network that connects science and society through the promotion of citizen science. To this end, a system was designed that integrates both the scientific information available from the IEO (on distribution, biology and ecology of marine species) and the new information generated thanks to the collaboration of users of the sea who participate in the project through a citizen science program.

On the
project web portal
you have access to the tools developed by the team, such as the “Biodiversity Catalog of Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea”, the web map viewer, the app and other informative documents. The “Biodiversity Catalog” consists of a series of fact sheets to assist in the identification of fish and invertebrate species of our coasts in an easy and visual way and containing information on their biology, ecology and distribution, which is regularly revised and updated. Thanks to all the contributions, the catalog has been completed with up to 142 species.

On the other hand, the web map viewer is an application that allows to visualize and consult georeferenced information from scientific data from IEO oceanographic campaigns dedicated to fishery resources and marine biodiversity (the series of historical data from IEO campaigns allows to monitor and detect the changes that are occurring over the years). In total, the viewer has 183 georeferenced fish and cephalopod species distribution data.

In addition, the web viewer also allows to visualize the contributions reported in the citizen science program DIVERSIMAR project, which has promoted public participation by combining research with environmental education and scientific dissemination, and aims to improve knowledge about biodiversity and conservation so that anyone can participate by sending their findings through the mobile application created for this purpose. In this regard, the citizen science program has yielded very positive results, as from May 2020 to December 2022 a total of 437 sightings have been received and a total of 132 volunteers have participated. Likewise, based on the information reported by users through the app, 187 species have been identified.

On the other hand, in relation to the dissemination of the project, the project has included, among other actions, the holding of 5 environmental education talks and the participation in more than 10 workshops organized by other entities, the edition of 4 visual guides identification of marine species of common fishes, flatfishes, tetragids and rays, participation in 2 round tables and more than 40 interviews in the radio media, the realization of 4 informative videos, more than 50 news items and more than 1,270 tweets or the writing of 7 items in local and regional trade press.

Finally, the entity has fostered collaboration with other entities belonging to different sectors linked to the marine environment. Among them, it is worth mentioning the contribution of information on the distribution of allochthonous and invasive species in the North Atlantic Demarcation in the framework of the project LIFE INTEMARESThe project also includes collaboration with the Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre Illas Atlánticas de Galicia, as well as participation in the Mesa de Ciencia Pesquera, co-chaired by the General Secretariat of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the General Secretariat of Research of the Ministry of Science and Innovation.