Our Mission

To build a global network of partner organizations that fosters the next generation of marine scientists who advance our understanding of nearshore marine ecosystems at local, regional, and global scales through standardized, accessible monitoring to inform science-based decision making.

Underwater view of a coral reef with sun rays shining through clear blue water
Why coastal ecosystems?

 

 

We focus on coastal ecosystems because they are hot zones of global change, where people and biodiversity concentrate and interact most.

A close shot of trees from a low angle, just above a body of water
Who do we collaborate with?

We collaborate with organizations all over the world, including academic institutions, NGOs, and local governments.

A shoreline lined with tall reeds and trees with autumn foliage under a clear sky.
Why our work matters

Our work informs science-based decisions by increasing our understanding of how and why nearshore marine habitats are changing at local, regional, and global scales.

Our Network

Featured Content

A small silver fish swimming over a sandy bottom with some small seagrass plants nearby. There are rays of sunlight coming through the water.

July 22, 2026 | By Sahar Chebaane

What habitats do you work in?

Our work covers many ecosystems, but currently the only MarineGEO protcol we implement is the fouling community protocol. We are planning to expand to the seagrass protocol in the near…

Partner Spotlight: Monastir Bay, Tunisia
A graph showing paper topic trends since 1965.
Figure 3 from the paper.

July 15, 2026 | By Anna Shenk-Evans

As any boat or dock owner will tell you, if you put something in the ocean, something will grow on it. These groups of organisms, known as biofouling communities, may be a nuisance to some, but they can be a…

New Paper: Marine Biofouling Communities: A Global Synthesis of Research Trends, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Directions
Isis Guibert and Philip Thompson standing in the water holding one of the PVC frames with tea bags on it.
Photo by Philip Thompson

July 17, 2026 | By Anna Shenk-Evans and Isis Guilbert

As global temperatures continue to rise, atmospheric carbon has become an increasingly hot topic. While the news frequently covers the causes and effects of increased carbon concentration, there…

What 2,000 Tea Bags Told Us About Coastal Carbon Storage