CoastSnap citizen science project expands to Mettams Pool
CoastSnap is a global citizen science project helping communities around the world capture how coastlines change over time. All you need is a smartphone and a moment at the beach.
At each CoastSnap station, you’ll find a simple stainless‑steel phone cradle overlooking the shoreline. Place your phone in the cradle, follow the instructions on the sign, take a photo, and upload it using the free CoastSnap app or via the QR code and hashtag unique to that site. Because every photo is taken from the same position, these community‑captured images build a powerful, long‑term record of coastal change.
Researchers and coastal managers use this growing image library to better understand how beaches respond to storms, seasonal patterns and long‑term environmental change. From these photos, they can extract shoreline position, beach width and other indicators that help inform planning and management decisions. A report analysing the first six months of data is already available, demonstrating the value of this shared effort.
Across Western Australia, CoastSnap stations are located at vulnerable coastal sites through the Peron Naturaliste Partnership, including:
- Shoalwater Bay and Waikiki Beach, Rockingham
- Silver Sands, Doddies Beach, Falcon Bay and Madora Bay, Mandurah
- Heron Point, Birchmont
- Binningup Beach
- Eaton Foreshore
- Koombana Bay and Bunbury Back Beach, Bunbury
- Dalyellup Beach
- Peppermint Grove Beach
- Busselton Jetty
Now, there’s a brand‑new CoastSnap station north of Perth at Mettams Pool. This location will help raise awareness about coastal erosion and give visitors a simple way to contribute to ongoing monitoring.
Next time you visit one of these beaches, take a moment to snap and share your shoreline photo. You’ll be contributing to a global effort to better understand and care for our coasts. Learn more at coastsnap.com.
