@biomarato
This citizen science event invites the citizens to photograph marine flora and fauna along the Catalan coast and record their findings on the MINKA platform, contributing to research and ecosystem conservation.
This May marks the start of the fifth edition of the BioMARathon, a citizen science initiative led by the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) with the aim of discovering the marine biodiversity of the Catalan coastline. Under the slogan “Beaches with life”, the campaign seeks to transform the perception of beaches as vibrant and essential ecosystems, while encouraging active public participation in scientific research.
From the first weekend of May until 15 October, the BioMARathon invites all sea and nature enthusiasts to photograph species found in coastal and marine ecosystems and to upload them to the MINKA platform. This participatory tool also enables the collaborative identification and validation of biodiversity observations.
Throughout the event, several partner organisations will run activities to encourage participation. This year, the Catalan Federation of Underwater Activities (FECDAS), Plàncton Diving, Oceánicos Association, Anèl·lides – Marine Environmental Services, and the Xatrac Environmental Association are offering guided snorkelling and diving trips to photograph marine life in different locations along the coast.
A friendly competition between provinces
To boost engagement, the BioMARató is framed as a friendly competition between Catalonia’s three coastal provinces: Girona, Barcelona and Tarragona. Participants compete to see who can upload the most observations, and the results will be announced at the end of the campaign.
In the 2024 edition, over 91,000 research-grade observations were collected, identifying more than 1,720 species, thanks to the participation of 481 people. Noteworthy findings included the fireworm (Hermodice carunculata), a tropical species spotted in the Port of Tarragona — a first record for Catalonia — and the Canary wrasse (Sparisoma cretense), an Atlantic-origin fish observed off the coast of Blanes, marking the first photographic evidence of this species on the Catalan coast.
A model expanding internationally
The BioMARató is driven by the EMBIMOS research group at the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), a team focused on designing and applying participatory information systems to support decision-making for environmental sustainability.
After five years, the BioMARató has become a successful model for marine citizen science. For instance, Portugal has launched its own version, the BioMARatona, inspired by the Catalan experience.
The BioMARató is supported by several European projects, including ANERIS, GUARDEN, PHAROS, ECS, ENFORCE, and ENHANCE.
Tècnica de comunicació científica.