VESS: Citizen Scientists Mapping Vanuatu's Hidden Marine Biodiversity

The Vanuatu Environmental Science Society (VESS) promotes conservation and environmental science in a country that hosts hundreds of species listed as threatened by the IUCN, mentoring Ni-Vanuatu scientists and students to build local research capacity. Its Vanuatu Sea Slug Census recruits volunteer divers and snorkellers to photograph and document species around Efate's reefs; the 2024 census alone logged 336 observations from 10 divers, identifying 41 species. VESS also leads dugong and flying fox monitoring, coordinates International Coastal Clean-up events tackling marine litter, and promotes responsible turtle-viewing guidelines for tour operators. By pairing citizen science with community education, VESS is filling in critical gaps in Vanuatu's biodiversity data used to guide future marine protection.