COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team) is a network of citizen scientists that monitor marine resources and ecosystem health at over 450 beaches across northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.
Volunteers pledge to survey their beach every month for beached birds or marine debris. In return, the COASST office pledges to put all of the data together, decipher the patterns across the entire survey range, and give that information back out to volunteers and the communities.
COASST believes coastal communities and people are essential scientific partners in monitoring marine ecosystem health. COASST partners with state, tribal and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups to create actionable science – science that matters. By collaborating with coastal residents, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions and responsible marine stewardship. Currently, nearly 1000 participants survey beaches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska.
