CITIZEN SCIENCE
Citizen science is central to
Ocean Conservation!
TECH-4-GOOD | OBSERVERS APP
The OBSERVERS APP is a FREE mobile phone app which allows users to log records of marine megafauna quickly and easily in the field. The app is available both for iOS and Android and can be downloaded on Google Play or iTunes.
NAME: OBSERVERS APP
PRESENTED BY: Ocean Research & Conservation Association.
GOAL: To monitor marine wildlife with citizen science.
TASK: Collect observations, strandings and by-catch data.
WHERE: Anywhere on the planet.
DESCRIPTION: Version 1.0 was released on Google Play in 2017.
HOW TO START: Download and sign up to be a member for free!
IDEAL AGE: Children 12 years +, Students, Adults, families.
ACTIVITY: Walking, running, boats, kayaks, sailing, angling.
TYPE: Outdoors.
FREQUENCY: Hourly/ daily/once a week depending on your local.
AVE. TIME: 2 minutes to log records. 15- 30 minutes learning.
TOPICS: Ecology & Environmental Science, Marine Biology.
MATERIALS: Download_Marine Wildlife of Eire I.D. Guide.
The OBSERVERS APP facilitates the collection of data on marine megafauna species to help inform Marine Spatial Planning and Conservation Policy. In Ireland, there is an urgent need to determine trends in protected marine species ranges and numbers, with increasing offshore wind development, fisheries, shipping and eco-tourism predicted over the coming years.
The United Nations Ocean Decade began in 2020, and Ireland has an EU target of protecting 30% of our marine ecosystems as Marine Protected Area's (M.P.A.s) by 2030, yet currently just <3 % are protected as Special Areas of Conservation (S.A.C.'s).

YOU can help to
Protect Marine Wildlife!
We help families and communities to learn about our ocean's marine wildlife by empowering people of all ages to become citizen scientists with the help of ORCA Ireland's citizen science 'pocket conservation -tool', and mobile phone application;
the OBSERVERS APP.
It's never been easier to use your #TECH4GOOD!
OBSERVERS NETWORK!
Where has the Observers App been used in Ireland?
- Rathlin Island, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Rathlin Island, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Shroove Lighthouse, John's Brae Stroove Ireland Shroove Lighthouse, John's Brae Stroove Ireland
- Inishowen Maritime Museum, Coastguard Station Greencastle Ireland Inishowen Maritime Museum, Coastguard Station Greencastle Ireland
- Ballycastle, United Kingdom Ballycastle, United Kingdom
- Lough Foyle, United Kingdom Lough Foyle, United Kingdom
- Waterfoot, Ballymena, United Kingdom Waterfoot, Ballymena, United Kingdom
- Cruit Island, Cruit Lower Cruit Upper Ireland Cruit Island, Cruit Lower Cruit Upper Ireland
- Arranmore Island Post Office, Leabgarrow Burtonport F92 Ireland Arranmore Island Post Office, Leabgarrow Burtonport F92 Ireland
- County Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom County Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Donegal, Ireland Donegal, Ireland
- Donegal Bay Waterbus (Waterbus Donegal Bay), Donegal F94 Ireland Donegal Bay Waterbus (Waterbus Donegal Bay), Donegal F94 Ireland
- Smugglers Creek Inn (Smugglers Creek Hotel Rossnowlagh), Killinangel Beg Killinangel Beg F94 Ireland Smugglers Creek Inn (Smugglers Creek Hotel Rossnowlagh), Killinangel Beg Killinangel Beg F94 Ireland
- Mullaghmore (Cliffony), Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland Mullaghmore (Cliffony), Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland
- Sligo, Ireland Sligo, Ireland
- Aughris, Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland Aughris, Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland
- Blacksod, Ballina, Ireland Blacksod, Ballina, Ireland
- Greencastle Harbour, Kilkeel Newry BT34 4 United Kingdom Greencastle Harbour, Kilkeel Newry BT34 4 United Kingdom
- Carlingford, Dundalk, Ireland Carlingford, Dundalk, Ireland
- Achill Island, Ireland Achill Island, Ireland
- Achill Sound, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland Achill Sound, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
- Clew Bay Cottages, Mulranny, Westport, F28, County Mayo, Ireland Clew Bay Cottages, Mulranny, Westport, F28, County Mayo, Ireland
- Rockabill Cove, Drogheda, Ireland Rockabill Cove, Drogheda, Ireland
- Killary Harbour, Ireland Killary Harbour, Ireland
- "Rockabill" South Strand, Skerries, County Dublin, K34 AP66, Ireland "Rockabill" South Strand, Skerries, County Dublin, K34 AP66, Ireland
- Portmarnock, Portmarnock, Ireland Portmarnock, Portmarnock, Ireland
- Kinvarra, Gaillimh, Éire Kinvarra, Gaillimh, Éire
- County Galway, Ireland County Galway, Ireland
- Ballybunion, Listowel, Ireland Ballybunion, Listowel, Ireland
- Ballyheigue Holiday Village, Tralee, Ireland Ballyheigue Holiday Village, Tralee, Ireland
- Brandon Bay, Brandon Brandon V92 Y263 Ireland Brandon Bay, Brandon Brandon V92 Y263 Ireland
- Carne Beach Caravan Park, Ballytra Ballytra, County Wexford Ireland Carne Beach Caravan Park, Ballytra Ballytra, County Wexford Ireland
- Inch Beach Cottages, Tralee, Ireland Inch Beach Cottages, Tralee, Ireland
- Dungarvan, Ireland Dungarvan, Ireland
- Cahersiveen, The Fair Green Caherciveen V23 Ireland Cahersiveen, The Fair Green Caherciveen V23 Ireland
- Cork, Ireland Cork Harbour, Ireland
- Shanagarry, Cork, Ireland Garryvoe Beach, Garryvoe Lower Garryvoe Lower P25 Ireland
- Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland
- Fountainstown (Crosshaven), Cork, Ireland Fountainstown (Crosshaven), Cork, Ireland
- Bandon, Ireland Bandon, Ireland
- Kinsale, Ireland Kinsale, Ireland
- Bantry, Ireland Bantry, Ireland
- Bantry Bay Pony Trekking - Private Rides, N71 Dromacoosane Ireland Bantry Bay Pony Trekking - Private Rides, N71 Dromacoosane Ireland
- Seven Heads, Seven Heads, Bandon, Ireland Seven Heads, Seven Heads, Bandon, Ireland
- Rosscarbery, Clonakilty, Ireland Rosscarbery, Clonakilty, Ireland
- Owenahincha, Clonakilty, Ireland Owenahincha, Clonakilty, Ireland
- Glandore, Skibbereen, Ireland Glandore, Skibbereen, Ireland
- Unionhall, Skibbereen, Ireland Unionhall, Skibbereen, Ireland
- Toormore, Skibbereen, Ireland Toormore, Skibbereen, Ireland
- Baltimore, Skibbereen, Ireland Baltimore, Skibbereen, Ireland
- Baltimore, Baltimore Ireland Baltimore, Baltimore Ireland
- Ballycroneen Beach, East Cork Ballycroneen, Ballycroneen, Midleton, Ireland
- Enniscrone Beach, Inishcrone Ireland Enniscrone Beach, Inishcrone F26 Ireland
- Clogherhead Beach, Ganderstown Dardisrath A92 R7D0 Ireland Clogherhead Beach, Ganderstown Dardisrath A92 R7D0 Ireland
- Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland
CONTACT US:
Email : volunteer.orca@gmail.com
Phone : + 353 -89-462-53-74.
Address:
ORCA IRELAND Office H.Q.
Rubicon Innovation Centre,
Munster Technology University (MTU),
Bishopstown,
Cork,
Ireland.