A unique initiative to discover and protect marine biodiversity through citizen science is coming to our shores! Originating in Catalonia, where it brought together no fewer than 510 participants in 2025, and after a successful launch in Portugal, the BioMARathon is taking a new step forward. The concept is now expanding to France, and more specifically to the Occitan coastline. The event kicked off on May 2nd, and the adventure will continue until October 15, 2026. So, grab your cameras!
A fun, science-driven competition
The BioMARathon is a friendly challenge for sea enthusiasts and users. The goal is to record as many observations and species as possible. Participating is very simple: all you need to do is upload your photos of marine fauna and flora to the MINKA platform.
If your observations meet the BioMARathon criteria, they will be automatically added to the project, and you will be in the running to win a prize! At the end of the season, the participants with the most species and ‘Research Grade’ observations will win rewards.
A key driver for ALIEN-OCCICAT
Beyond its fun aspect, this citizen science challenge has a major ecological impact. All field-collected data is invaluable for numerous scientific projects. This is particularly true for ALIEN-OCCICAT, which will rely on all your observations of Non-Indigenous Species to map and track their progression in real-time.
By participating, you directly help to:
- Detect new arrivals before they become permanent residents.
- Track the spread of already known Non-Indigenous Species.
- Assess the pressure on local species and key habitats.
How to participate?
You don’t need to be a marine biology expert to join the adventure! Just follow these three steps:
The community experts will then validate your identifications!
By multiplying the eyes on the coastline from now until October 15, every shared photo becomes a tangible action to help researchers and protect our region’s marine biodiversity.
Whether you are on vacation or a local resident, are you ready to take on the challenge?
The BioMARathon Occitania is part of the project:
With the support of
Promoted by
With the financing of European projects:
