"Il pesce giusto": an educational citizen science project

“Il pesce giusto” is a Citizen Science project (CS) that encourages consumers to record their consumption from the point of view of ecological sustainability. Aims of the project are to encourage a consumers’ sustainable food consumption and to reveal information about the ecology of the seafood purchased. Over the last decades, the Mediterranean marine resources have been heading to a progressive decline. But biodiversity, food production and food consumption are strictly interconnected elements. The scientific literature as well as political documents underline the need for urgent efforts able to connect ecological, economic and social knowledge. Actually, the society can play an active role in sustainable management of the environmental heritage: properly used, CS can improve the linkage among ecological research, ecological education and sustainable behaviour. In this framework, in 2014 “Il pesce giusto” has been ideated. In 2016 our working group, composed of ecologists and computer scientists, realised the App for IOS and Android devices. This tool can be considered as a double side source of information: from one side it can be practically utilised for data collection by the measurement of the seafood purchased and the easy submission of its pictures. From the other side, the device can be considered also as an educational tool: the app can give easily accessible information and introduce a novel pathway to inform consumers, increasingly selective and competent, on their personal purchasing choices in real time. An immediate feedback to the user about the sustainability of the food choice (according to criteria of size and seasonality) is provided, and other sections of the app are dedicated to the spread of information about ecology, conservation and sustainability, contributing to the educational goals of the CS research. While the campaign is active throughout the national territory, it is focused however in the Argentario area (GFCM sub-area 9) with the partnership of local organisations. In fact, the literature recommends local community activities and underlines the importance of developing initiatives to connect volunteers and researchers to build a sense of community. In order to support the campaign and to engage people, various kind of activities have been planned in different contexts as restaurants, cultural and recreational places as aquarium and boat fishing for tourism. Supporting material has been developed and a mini-guide on sustainable consumption of marine resources has been ideated and provided.