Community-Oriented Coastal Observatory
What is COCO?
The Community-Oriented Coastal Observatory (COCO) is a community-centred network for monitoring changes in marine animal life off eastern Canada. We do this by collecting samples of seawater from Nova Scotian coastlines in collaboration with local communities and then using environmental (e)DNA analysis to identify the animals found at those locations. We then work with communities to share information on how detections of the different animals are changing over time.
Our Goals
COCO is a community-driven eDNA network designed to track long-term changes in Nova Scotia’s coastal ecosystems. As ocean temperatures rise, marine animals are on the move, making biodiversity
monitoring more important than ever. But keeping an eye on these changes takes a lot of effort – and that’s where COCO comes in. By involving communities in the process, COCO strengthens local stewardship, builds scientific literacy, and connects people with the ocean in a meaningful way. All of our findings will be shared with the communities and people that help to collect the water samples that we use.
Mission Statement
Building meaningful, reciprocal partnerships with local communities to collaboratively monitor changes in marine life off Nova Scotia/Mi’kma’ki (Kespukwitk, Sɨpekne'katik, Eskikewa’kik, and Unama’kik districts).
Who is behind COCO?
Why now?
The initiative is led by Dalhousie University PhD student Samantha Beal, Dr. Derek Tittensor (FOME lab), and Dr. Paul Bentzen (Bentzen Lab). Dalhousie University and the network are situated in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral, current, and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq.
Nova Scotia’s coastal waters are changing fast. The Northwest Atlantic
is warming quicker than most other oceans, and as species move
northward, new arrivals are mixing with longtime residents.
Understanding these changes requires long-term, widespread
monitoring – something researchers can’t do alone.That’s where
you come in. COCO is all about bridging the gap between community
knowledge and academic science. With more eyes (and eDNA samplers) on the water, we can track these shifts together and make sure local voices are part of the conversation.
Join the COCO network!
Interested in becoming a COCO community partner? We provide all the training and materials you need. Contact Samantha Beal at samantha.beal@dal.ca to set up an intake call and learn more!
Why eDNA?
Community partners collect eDNA samples and mail them back to Dalhousie University for processing and analysis. That’s it! You collect the sample – we take care of the rest.New partners get hands-on training in eDNA sampling and an introduction to the project’s goals. eDNA sampling machines are either provided directly or available for pickup from a central location. Before each sampling event, partners receive kits with everything they need. Once samples are collected, filters are mailed back using a prepaid shipping box.Once the results are in, we will share them directly with our partners and post them on the COCO website so everyone can see what’s happening in our coastal waters.
Studying marine biodiversity has traditionally meant boats, nets, and hours of fieldwork. This is often expensive and time-consuming.eDNA offers a simple, non-invasive alternative: instead of catching animals, we collect the tiny traces of DNA they leave behind in the water. With a single sample, we can detect multiple species – efficiently, affordably, and with minimal disturbance to the ecosystem. By repeating this seasonally, year after year, we can build a strong baseline to determine how things are moving around our coasts as the waters warm.
How COCO works
Image credit: Smith-Root