Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s (YWT) Marine Programme is generating an ever-increasing volume of valuable marine and coastal data. This comes from a growing portfolio of projects, including environmental monitoring for our seascape restoration work like the Wilder Humber project, alongside expanding citizen science initiatives recording intertidal species, marine mammals and invasive non-native species (INNS). 

As our work continues to grow, so does the volume, complexity and importance of the data we collect. Without dedicated support to organise, manage and interpret this information, there is a real risk that valuable datasets become underused, inconsistent or inaccessible. At the same time, much of Yorkshire’s coastline and seas remain under-recorded, and there is still a lack of robust, long-term datasets needed to understand how climate change, coastal erosion and human pressures are affecting marine ecosystems – and whether our conservation work is making a measurable difference. 

This is why we need a Marine Data Volunteer. 

By supporting the Marine Team with the management and analysis of our datasets, you will play a vital role in transforming raw data into meaningful, usable evidence. This evidence is essential for: 

• Detecting changes in key habitats such as kelp forests, saltmarsh and seagrass
• Monitoring important species such as seals and cetaceans
• Identifying early warning signs of climate impacts and the spread of invasive species
• Informing conservation decisions, marine planning and future protections
• Evaluating the impact and success of our restoration and monitoring projects

Your contribution will ensure that the data we collect does not sit unused for longer than we would like but instead becomes a powerful tool for protecting and restoring Yorkshire’s estuaries and seas as soon as possible.

For more information and to apply for this role please read the role description which can be downloaded below and send in a completed application form to volunteering@ywt.org.uk