Activities developed within GuardIAS were presented at the ICES Annual Science Conference 2026 as an example of how citizen participation can progress beyond biodiversity observations and monitoring towards active involvement in marine management.
The GuardIAS case study focused on participatory management of the invasive lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Mediterranean. Local diving teams are not treated simply as providers of observations: they participate directly in repeated removal activities while contributing information that can be used to evaluate management outcomes. Scientists support the process through monitoring design, protocols, equipment and ecological assessment, creating a collaborative framework in which local knowledge and capacity become part of the management response.
Within the presentation’s broader “Observe → Monitor → Act” framework, GuardIAS represented the transition towards ACT: citizen scientists progressively becoming partners in addressing a concrete environmental challenge.
A central message presented at ICES was that this transition cannot be achieved through tools and protocols alone. Long-term relationships build trust, and trust enables responsibility. Developing sustained collaborations between scientists, local communities and marine users can therefore help transform participation into lasting partnerships for marine monitoring and management.
