Webinar on PRIMED Participation

Sea star suffering from wasting syndrome.\Photo by Jim Young.

Marine diseases are on the rise and there is an urgent need to prepare for, respond to, and manage outbreaks. CoastWatch is offering the second of two online opportunities in October to learn more about diseases that affect wild marine animals and how to participate in citizen science efforts to track them.  The first, on Oct. 15, provided general background.  On Oct. 22, 11 a.m., a follow-up training will show how volunteers can add their observations to the PRIMED project on iNaturalist. 

The newly formed PRIMED Network (Primary Responders in Marine Emergent Disease) is a group of scientists, managers, and citizens interested in marine wildlife diseases. Founded by Sarah Gravem, a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University who works in the laboratory of prominent marine ecologists Bruce Menge and Jane Lubchenco, the goal of PRIMED is to have an extensive monitoring network on the West Coast that will allow rapid detection and response to outbreaks of marine disease, such as Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. The team hopes to utilize citizen science networks to help track instances of disease via iNaturalist. 

The October 22 session will provide detailed instructions on how to contribute observations.  Jesse Jones, CoastWatch volunteer coordinator, will moderate the conversation. 

For more information about PRIMED, go here.

Contact Jesse Jones at jesse@oregonshores.org for a link to the webinar or more information.