Ocean Science Analytics (OSA), a global leader in marine research and education, used the eOceans app and analytics platform over the past year to evaluate the socio-ecological performance of the La Jolla marine protected area (MPA) in California.
By combining historical records from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), dating back to the 1970s, with real-time observations from local MPA users, the project assessed biodiversity, human activity (social values and compliance), environmental conditions, and emerging threats.
The study analyzed data from 247 surveys, documenting 245,908 animals—including whales, dolphins, sea lions, leopard sharks, Mola mola, and squid—alongside 6,445 human activities (e.g., surfing, fishing, kayaking, diving) and 138 pollution traces (e.g., lost fishing gear, plastics).
This innovative approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the MPA's biodiversity, socio-economic value, and threats, offering critical evidence of its effectiveness and performance while guiding future conservation efforts.
Read the full case study here, overview of the study here, or explore their findings on the interactive dashboard here. Please feel free to contact me or Liz Ferguson (cc'd) at OSA if you have any questions or would like to learn more about how this approach could benefit your work. Please also share with decision makers who are keenly interested in doing more.
