Evaluating Engagement and Barriers in Marine Citizen Science : A Case Study of the Gotland Marine BioBlitz

Sammanfattning

Citizen science is increasingly recognized as a valuable approach to biodiversity monitoring and public engagement in environmental research. Marine environments remain less documented than many terrestrial ecosystems because data collection is often difficult, costly, and logistically demanding. This study examines the Gotland Marine BioBlitz as a case of marine citizen science to investigate what biodiversity and participant-related outcomes such an initiative can generate, how engagement shaped recruitment and participation, and what implications this case offers for future marine citizen science initiatives. The study used a case study approach combining a literature search, an expert interview, biodiversity observations, participant survey responses, and structured field notes from two guided BioBlitz events and a two-month BioBlitz marathon on Gotland in the Baltic Sea. The empirical material was analyzed using the Multi-Temporal Engagement Framework. The project generated 220 marine observations representing 41 species, of which 45% had reached Research Grade in iNaturalist by late January 2026. Most observations came from shallow and accessible coastal habitats and were dominated by common, visible, and easy-to-photograph taxa, although the project also documented observations of local interest. The BioBlitz marathon generated more marine observations in total than the two guided event days combined, while the guided BioBlitz events were more productive per day. Survey responses further indicate that participants valued both learning and contributing to science, and most respondents reported increased knowledge after participation. At the same time, participation was lower than expected, and the analysis identified barriers related to recruitment, visibility, app-related uncertainty, environmental conditions, and the practical difficulty of documenting marine organisms in the field. The results also showed that the guided events created the strongest conditions for participant interaction, support, and learning, whereas recruitment and follow-up were less developed. The study concludes that marine citizen science can generate meaningful biodiversity data and public engagement, but that its success depends on careful project design, including clear aims, targeted communication, practical field support, suitable digital tools, planned data pathways, and follow-up structures that support continued participation beyond a single event.