The Big Sea Survey was a regional venture in the north east of England run by Newcastle University's Dove Marine Laboratory. The project recruited and trained volunteers to help create a databank of information about the coastline. It also aimed to promote an understanding and sense of pride in the rich natural heritage of the north-east coast.

Volunteers were offered three ways to get involved in the project: 

• undertaking surveys independently on five species at locations they chose
• in small teams, studying how habitats work and how species interact with each other at selected sites
• ‘bioblitz’ days where large groups of scientists and volunteers worked together to audit a section of shore

As well as providing exciting ways to volunteer, the Big Sea Survey collected a massive amount of information, filling knowledge gaps about the natural heritage of our coast.

The Big Sea Survey went on to develop into the UK-wide Capturing our Coast citizen science project.