The Israeli public took a more active role in protecting the country's marine wildlife last year than the previous year, according to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).
It recently released a report showing a record-breaking number of downloads of its SeaWatch application in 2023 – 2,322, double the number in 2022.
Last year, they also marked a record-breaking number of reports: 368 (+25%) from 207 (+20%) different people, including 53 reports of marine wildlife spottings.
"Each report is like a pair of vigilant eyes, actively contributing to real-time marine conservation," said Hadas Gann-Perkal, marine projects coordinator in the Blue Half, SPNI's marine project. "We continue to work towards raising awareness and vigilance regarding ecological incidents in the sea, expanding the circle of reporters; everything happens thanks to their contributions."
Background on the application
The SeaWatch application was launched seven years ago due to challenges enforcing violations in the sea and nature reserves. This led to increasing pollution and the death of endangered species. The app allows citizens to report incidents in real-time and receive updates on the progress of the response.
SPNI's SeaWatch collaborates with the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Last year, the team updated the app with new reporting categories and observation features, streamlining the process and empowering a quicker and more effective response.
SPNI said that 100% of the reports received via the app received an initial response by phone or email from the SeaWatch team. Some 75% of the reports that required a practical response in the field were successfully closed.
For the first time in 2023, reports related to the Sea of Galilee were made.
Gann-Perkal said it is exciting to see the increase in the quantity of reports and their quality.
What other kinds of reports were made?
The reports made through the application
According to the report, 62 reports were received on washed-up sea turtle carcasses – a significant decrease from the year before – and 62 on marine pollution and debris.
In one incident, a sea turtle nest was identified, and authorities were able to fence it off to protect it. There were also several incidents of dolphin carcasses being washed ashore and cases of hazardous materials, oil, and tar spilled in the water.
SPNI explained that a healthy marine environment helps mitigate and manage risks like coastal erosion, jellyfish outbreaks, and the spread of harmful invasive species.
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