BioMARathons as a seasonal engagement model for marine citizen science: adapting BioBlitzes to challenging coastal environments

Abstract

BioBlitzes are widely used citizen science events that combine biodiversity monitoring, public participation, and environmental awareness through short and intensive observation campaigns. However, applying this model to marine environments presents additional challenges related to safety, access, weather dependency, specialised equipment, species identification, and sustained participation. This paper presents the BioMARathon model as a case study of how BioBlitz-inspired events can be adapted to marine citizen science contexts. The BioMARathon extends the conventional BioBlitz format into a longer, seasonal, and distributed engagement model designed specifically for marine and coastal environments. The paper describes the conceptual foundations of the model in the Janus Engagement Framework, which informed both the design of the BioMARathon and the adaptation of the MINKA citizen science observatory to better support participation, validation, feedback, and continuity over time. BioMARato Catalunya, launched in 2021, is presented as the founding implementation of the model and as the basis for later replication in Portugal. Between 2021 and 2025, BioMARato Catalunya showed continued growth in participation, observations, and taxonomic coverage, while also contributing to the detection of non-indigenous species, first regional records, and climate-related ecological impacts. Beyond biodiversity outcomes, the case suggests that extending participation across a season, distributing activities through local mobilising organisations, and combining expert validation with visible feedback mechanisms can support recurrent participation, retention, and community reactivation in marine citizen science. Rather than offering a formal causal evaluation, this article contributes practical lessons for the design of citizen science initiatives in challenging environments.