When you step onto Busselton Jetty, you’re entering one of Australia’s greatest artificial reef ecosystems – with a colourful array of life both above and below the water. This April, there’s even more reason to explore.
April is Citizen Science Month – a global celebration of everyday people contributing to real scientific discovery.
Citizen science is exactly what it sounds like: ordinary people collecting data and helping scientists better understand the world around us.
- Anyone can get involved – no prior experience is needed
- All you need is a smartphone and internet connection
- Millions of people worldwide are already participating – and helping to make new discoveries!
Why Get Involved?
Our oceans cover more than 70% of the planet and influence everything from climate to food security, yet they face growing threats from pollution and overfishing to climate change.
By contributing your time to marine data collection, you’re helping scientists better understand and protect these fragile ecosystems. Still need convincing? Here are a few more reasons:
1. Connect with Nature (and Your Community)
Spending time in nature is show to reduce stress and improve mood. Citizen science adds another layer – connecting you with a community of curious, like-minded people. You can learn from and support other citizen scientists by comparing notes and helping each other with species identification.
2. Discover Local Biodiversity
Learn about the incredible species living right beneath the Jetty, or even the ones in your own backyard!
3. Contribute to Real Science
Every observation counts. The more data contributed, the more information scientists have to work with!
How to Get Involved at Busselton Jetty
📸 Capture Changing Coastlines with CoastSnap
Have you ever noticed how different the beach can look at different times of the year? At the base of the Jetty, you’ll find our CoastSnap frame. Simply place your phone in the frame and take a photo of the beach, and upload it to the linked website.
Repeated images from the same spot allows researchers to track how beaches and coastlines change over time due to storms, sea level rise, and human activity.
🐠 Record Marine Life with iNaturalist
As you walk along the jetty—or explore the Underwater Observatory – keep an eye out for wildlife – from seagulls to octopus!
- Snap a photo
- Upload it to iNaturalist using their free app
- Your observation will automatically be added to our Life Around Busselton Jetty project, creating a valuable resource for discovering who lives at the Jetty.
You’ll receive help identifying your sightings, and your observations will be contributed to the Atlas of Living Australia, a national database helping scientists track Australia’s biodiversity.
🐟 Report Rare Sightings
Spotted an unusual fish? Submit it to REDMap, a project tracking rare marine species and how climate change is shifting their habitats.
Can’t Visit in Person? You Can Still Take Part
You don’t have to be on the jetty to get involved.
🎥 Watch Our Live Webcams
Our live webcams stream real-time views of the underwater world, so you can observe and record marine life from anywhere.
🔍 Help Identify Species
Browse our iNaturalist project and help other visitors identify what they’ve found – perfect practice for budding marine enthusiasts.
Did You Know?
Citizen science at Busselton Jetty has already led to some incredible discoveries:
- Verified over 360 species living at Busselton Jetty
- Recorded a rare sighting of a Manta Ray that had travelled much further south than its usual home range
- Identified 29 species of sea slugs beneath the Jetty during the 2026 Sea Slug Census
What Will You Discover?
Every visit to Busselton Jetty is an opportunity to explore, learn, and contribute to scientific discovery.
Whether you’re snapping a photo, identifying a species, or simply observing the underwater world – you’re part of something bigger.
