Collecting accurate, high-quality coral reef data is simple and efficient with MERMAID Collect. Whether you're online or working offline in the field, you can enter observations directly into the platform—no spreadsheets needed.

Data collection begins in your project’s Collecting page. This is your personal workspace where you can enter, view, and edit data from your dive sheets. Species names are searchable with just a few keystrokes, and real-time metrics—such as benthic cover, fish biomass, bleaching severity, and habitat complexity—are automatically calculated as you go, even offline.

Before submission, MERMAID runs built-in validation checks to flag missing or inconsistent values, helping you avoid common data entry errors. Once validated and submitted, your data is ready for analysis and sharing. 

Review key terms here used in the data collection before starting.

Start Collecting Observations

See the step-by-step guide below on how to collect data in your Collecting page.

Step 1: Add a New Sample Unit

A sample unit is the equivalent of a transect or a quadrat collection on a specific date and site. To record new data, add a sample unit by choosing the appropriate survey method. MERMAID supports six commonly used methods (Read more in Supported Survey Methods), each with tailored data entry forms:

• Fish Belt Transect

• Benthic Point-Intercept Transect (PIT)

• Benthic Line-Intercept Transect (LIT)

• Benthic Photo Quadrat with manual entry or AI Image Classification (Beta). 

• Bleaching Rapid Assessment

• Habitat Complexity Visual Scoring

You can classify benthic photo quadrats directly in MERMAID using the AI Image Classification tool (Beta). Read more about it here. 

Step 2: Complete Your Sample Unit Form

Fill in the required fields and add your observations in the form for the selected survey method. You can save your progress anytime—even offline.

• Complete all required fields (marked with a red asterisk) in the sections Sample Event and Transect/Quadrat Collection. 

• Select at least one Observer from the list of project users. Click their name to assign; click again to remove. You can select more than one observer if needed.

• Enter all observations in the Observations table. 

• Click Save to store the sample unit—this works both online and offline. If the Save button is greyed out, no changes have been made since the last save.

Step 3: Validate and Submit Your Sample Unit

When you are online and ready to share your data with your project members:

• Validate your sample unit. MERMAID will check for errors and warnings.

• Fix any errors (which prevent submission) and review warnings (which you can choose to address or ignore).

• Submit the sample unit once it passes validation.

Step 4: What Happens After Submission?

Once submitted, your data:

• Moves to the Submitted page, where it is visible to all project members.

• Is included in project export files (.xlsx format) and can be exported in the Submitted page. 

• Becomes accessible via the authenticated MERMAID R package.

Is visible and can be exported in MERMAID Explore if your project’s data sharing policy for that survey method is set to Public or Public Summary. If Private, data is only visible to you and other project users via an authenticated login in MERMAID Explore. 

Navigating the Collecting Page

The Collecting page is where you enter, view, and edit sample units before they are submitted. Here’s how to use it:

• Go to your project’s Collecting page. You can access it by either:

  • Clicking on Collecting in your project’s sidebar, or

  • Clicking on Collecting in your project’s card in the Projects page. The Collecting tab in a project card displays two numbers separated by a slash.

    • Before the slash: The total number of unsubmitted sample units across the entire project.

    • After the slash (in a red circle): The number of unsubmitted sample units assigned to you in your Collecting page.

• In your project's Collecting page, the number in a red circle shows how many sample units you’ve saved but not yet submitted.

• Use the search bar or filters to quickly find sample units by method, site, management regime, or observer.

• Click any column header to sort entries by that field. You can sort based on multiple fields.

Each sample unit in the list also displays a status column that helps you track your progress and identify what action is needed next:

• Saved – The sample unit has been saved but not yet validated.

• Errors – Validation failed due to error(s). Issues must be fixed before submission (e.g., missing required fields).

• Warnings – Validated with unresolved warning(s). Some fields may need review or be ignored before submission.

• Ready to Submit – The sample unit has passed validation and can be submitted.

This makes it easy to monitor your work progress and manage what’s complete and what still needs attention.

Only users with the Collector or Admin role can enter and submit data. Read-only users cannot collect data and do not have access to the Collecting page.

MERMAID Collect on Mobiles or Tablets

MERMAID Collect works seamlessly on your phone or tablet—perfect for data entry between dives while on the boat or in remote locations. 

There's no need for an app download: simply open your browser (i.e., Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge) and go to app.datamermaid.org. The mobile and tablet interface works just like it does on a computer—allowing you to record observations quickly and reliably in the field. 

MERMAID Collect supports six widely used coral reef survey methods—each with its own built-in data entry form designed to match how you collect data in the field. Whether you're recording fish biomass, benthic cover, or bleaching severity, MERMAID makes it easy to enter structured, high-quality observations directly into the platform.

Types of Survey Methods Supported for Data Collection

You can enter data for any of the following methods in MERMAID—online or offline—and get automated built-in validation and real-time reef health metrics. Read more in Learning About Our Reef Health Metrics.

Each method in MERMAID is backed by published protocols and aligns with global coral reef monitoring standards. Built-in helper text and info icons throughout each sample unit form provide guidance and definitions to help you complete each form with accuracy. 

Not Seeing a Survey Method You Use?

MERMAID is always evolving. If you use a coral reef survey method that’s not currently supported, let us know! We welcome new method suggestions. Send us a message here.

Need Dive Sheets for the Field?

Download printable dive sheet templates for each survey method on the Dive Sheets for Field Data Collection page. Perfect for underwater use and easy data entry in MERMAID Collect.

In MERMAID, each transect or quadrat collection you complete in the field—whether it's a fish belt, benthic PIT, or a bleaching rapid assessment—is recorded in the platform as a sample unit. A sample unit represents one instance of data collection using a specific survey method at a specific site on a specific date. It’s the building block of your project dataset in MERMAID.

Filling Out a Sample Unit Form 

When you’re ready to enter data from your dive sheets, go to your project’s Collecting page and click + Add Sample Unit. You’ll then select the appropriate method and fill out a structured form organized into four consistent sections (Sample Event, Transect/Quadrat Collection, Observers, Observations). 

1. Sample Event

This section defines where and when the data was collected. You'll select:

• Site – From the list of sites added to the project. Learn more about adding sites here. 

• Management Regime – From the list of management regimes added to the project. Learn more about adding regimes here.

• Date of Survey – The date the sample unit was collected.

Each sample event (site, management regime, and date) is used to group your sample units for the reef health metrics calculations in MERMAID. Read more in Learning about Our Reef Health Metrics.

2. Transect/Quadrat Collection

This section captures the protocol-specific details of the survey method used. Every method has tailored fields, such as:

You’ll also enter general information like:

• Transect Number

• Depth (m)

• Optional Context – Label, sample time, reef slope, visibility, current, relative depth, tide, notes

Some fields use dropdowns with standardized values (e.g., belt width, fish size bins); others are free text or numeric fields for flexibility (e.g., transect length surveyed, interval size).

3. Observers

In this section, assign the person(s) who collected the observations underwater:

• Select from the list of project users

• Click to add or remove names

• At least one observer is required per sample unit

Accurate attribution helps with training, reporting, and quality assurance.

4. Observations

Here’s where you enter your actual data (raw observations):

• For Fish Belt: fish name, size (cm), count

• For Benthic PIT: attribute name and growth form (if applicable) per interval (m)

• For Benthic LIT: attribute name, growth form (if applicable) and length (cm)

• For Benthic Photo Quadrat: quadrat number, attribute name, growth form (if applicable) and number of points

• For Bleaching: coral genus, bleaching severity

• For Habitat Complexity: habitat complexity score per interval (m)

Suggesting a New Benthic Attribute or Fish Species  

While entering your observations, if there is a benthic attribute or fish species that isn’t yet listed in the dropdown, you can propose a new one directly while entering observations in the Observations table.

To propose a new benthic attribute:

1. Type the new benthic attribute in the Observations table, and select Propose New Benthic Attribute… from the dropdown.

2. Enter the coral genus/family/top-level category in Parent and the species/genus in Name.

3. Click Next to review your suggestion.

4. Click Send to MERMAID to submit it for review.

To propose a new fish species:

1. Type the new fish species in the Observations table, and select Propose New Species… from the dropdown.

2. Select a Genus name from the dropdown and enter the Species name.

3. Click Next to review your suggestion.

4. Click Send to MERMAID to submit it for review.

If the genus you’re trying to add isn’t found in MERMAID’s taxonomic reference, select Contact us for help from the dropdown to notify the MERMAID Team.

Before suggesting a new benthic attribute or fish species to MERMAID, please verify that the species is officially recognized in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). This helps ensure consistency and accuracy in our database. 

Once you’ve sent your suggestion for review, it is immediately added to your sample unit as a provisional observation and it will be available to all users. However, it becomes an official part of MERMAID’s taxonomic reference only after it has been reviewed and approved by the MERMAID Team. Once approved, it will be included in the biomass calculation.

You can view the full list of available benthic attributes and fish species by clicking the Reference icon at the top of any page in MERMAID Collect. This will download an up-to-date MERMAID taxonomic reference file. 

Viewing Metric Summaries in a Sample Unit

As you enter observations in a sample unit, MERMAID automatically calculates and displays key metric summaries to provide quick insights and support data quality checks — all available even when you’re offline.

Read more in Learning About Our Taxonomic Reference.

Explore the metric summaries available for each survey type below:

Fish Belt

For fish belts, total biomass (kg per hectare), using length-weight coefficients from FishBase (Bayesian estimates), and abundance (total count of individuals) are calculated in real-time . These are applied automatically to your fish name, size, and count entries based on the survey area (i.e., transect length and width). MERMAID uses standardized fish taxonomy from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) to ensure consistency.

Benthic PIT, LIT, and Photo Quadrat

For all benthic methods, percent cover is automatically calculated for each top-level benthic category (e.g., hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae) based on the observations you enter. These percentages are displayed beneath the Observations table. Each benthic attribute entered is hierarchically grouped into these broader categories commonly used in global reef monitoring.

Bleaching 

For bleaching surveys, MERMAID calculates:

• Total number of coral colonies

• Total number of coral genera

• Percent colonies by bleaching severity level (normal, pale, and bleached)

• Percent cover of hard coral, soft coral, and macroalgae

These metrics appear below the Observations table and help you evaluate the extent of bleaching in real time.

Habitat Complexity

For habitat complexity surveys, MERMAID calculates the average complexity score (scale 0–5) across all intervals entered. This provides an immediate overview of structural habitat condition for each transect.

Saving a Sample Unit 

Saving your work regularly is essential while collecting data in MERMAID Collect. Whether you're online or offline, all sample units are saved locally to your computer to ensure nothing is lost.

Here’s how saving works:

• When you enter new information into a sample unit, the Save button in the upper-right corner will turn bright red.

• Click the red Save button to save your progress.

• Once saved, the button will turn gray and display the label Saved, indicating there is no new data to save.

You can always return to any saved sample unit later to add or change data, then save again.

Automatic prompts for unsaved data

If you try to navigate away from a page with unsaved changes:

• MERMAID will show a warning message that you have unsaved data.

• Select Cancel to remain on the page and save.

• Select OK to leave the page without saving your recent changes.

Tips for Data Entry: Keyboard Shortcuts and Predictive Text 

Use these keyboard shortcuts and the predictive text to move quickly through the Observations table in a sample unit form:

• Use the Tab key to move across fields in a row.

• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through benthic attribute or fish name suggestions.

• Under the column Fish Name, Benthic Attribute and Growth form, type a few letters of your observation (e.g., Istpla for Istiophorus platypterus), then use the arrow keys and Enter/Tab to select it from the matching dropdown options. Or type until there’s only one option and press Enter/Return.

• Press Tab at the end of a row to duplicate the last observation in the next row—useful for entering different size bins for the same fish species, or entering consecutive observations of the same benthic attribute in a transect. 

• Press Enter/Return at the end of the row to start a new one and begin typing the next observation.

This helps ensure consistent naming and speeds up your workflow—especially when entering lots of observations.

When you're ready to enter your fish observations from your dive sheets, navigate to your project's Collecting page and click + Add Sample Unit. Choose the Fish Belt method to open a sample unit form organized into four main sections: Sample Event, Transect, Observers, Observations.

Read more about our fish belt method in Supported Survey Methods.

Completing a Fish Belt Sample Unit Form

1. Sample Event

Defines where and when the fish belt survey was conducted. You'll select:

• Site – From the list of sites added to the project. Learn more about adding sites here. 

• Management Regime – From the list of management regimes added to the project. Learn more about adding management regimes here.

• Date of Survey – The date the sample unit was collected.

Each sample event (site, management regime, and date) is used to group your sample units for the reef health metrics calculations in MERMAID. Read more in Learning about Our Reef Health Metrics.

2. Transect

Protocol-specific fields for the fish belt survey:

• Transect Number

• Depth (m)

• Transect Length Surveyed (m)

• Width (m) – This represents the total belt width surveyed combining both sides of the transect line. Options include: 

Single-width belts for all fish sizes:

• 1 m

• 2 m

• 4 m

• 5 m

• 10 m

• 20 m

Mixed-width belts depending on fish size, where the width is automatically assigned based on each fish size observed:

• <10 cm @ 2 m, ≥10 cm @ 5 m

• <20 cm @ 2 m, ≥20 cm @ 4 m

• <20 cm @ 4 m, ≥20 cm @ 8 m

• ≥10 cm & <35 cm @ 5 m, ≥35 cm @ 20 m

If a mixed-width belt option is selected, MERMAID will calculate the effective transect area for each fish record according to the rule.

For instance, under the rule <10 cm @ 2 m, ≥10 cm @ 5 m, a fish measuring 8 cm would be assigned a transect width of 2 m, while a fish measuring 12 cm would be assigned 5 m.

This feature is particularly useful when:

• Different belt widths were used for different size classes;

• Only one observer collected the data;

• You wish to combine all observations into a single sample unit, while still accounting for the correct belt width per fish size.

• Fish Size Bin (cm) – This represents the size class of the fish observed. Options are:

  • 1 cm

  • 5 cm

  • 10 cm

  • AGRRA (Read more about AGRRA fish protocol here)

  • WCS India

  • For fish >50 cm, use the '50+cm' bin and enter exact size.

• Optional Fields – Reef Slope, Visibility, Current, Relative Depth, Tide, Notes.

Some fields use standardized dropdowns (e.g., belt width), while others accept numeric or free-text entries (e.g., transect length surveyed). 

MERMAID requires you to specify the transect length surveyed and total belt width (m). These inputs are needed to calculate the surveyed area for biomass estimation (kg/ha). For example, a 50 m long transect with a 5 m total width covers 250 m², or 0.025 ha.

3. Observers

Assign the observer(s) who conducted the survey:

• Select from the list of project users

• Click to add/remove names

• At least one observer is required per sample unit

4. Observations

Enter your raw field observations:

• Fish Name – Enter the observed taxon; this can be at the species, genus, or family level, depending on the precision of your identification.

• Size (cm) – Record the estimated total length of the fish (in cm) observed in this row.

• Count – Enter the number of individuals observed for that fish name at the specified size.

Proposing a New Fish Species

If a fish species isn’t yet listed in the dropdown:

1. Type its name in the Observations table.

2. Select Propose New Species….

3. Select Genus name from the dropdown and enter the Species name.

4. Click Next to review your suggestion.

5. Click Send to MERMAID to submit it for review.

If the genus is missing, select Contact us for help to notify the MERMAID team.

The fish taxonomy in MERMAID is standardized using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) to ensure consistent species classification.

You can download the full list of available fish species using the Reference icon in MERMAID Collect.

Tips for Data Entry: Keyboard Shortcuts and Predictive Text

Use these keyboard shortcuts and the predictive text to move quickly through the Observations table in a sample unit form:

• Use the Tab key to move across fields in a row.

• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through fish name suggestions.

• Under the column Fish Name, type a few letters of your observation (e.g., Istpla for Istiophorus platypterus),  then use the arrow keys and Enter/Return/Tab to select it from the matching dropdown options. Or type until there’s only one option and press Enter/Return.

• Press Tab at the end of a row to duplicate the observation in the next row—useful for entering different size bins for the same fish species in a transect. 

• Press Enter/Return to start a new row and begin typing the next observation. 

This helps ensure consistent naming and speeds up your workflow—especially when entering lots of observations.

Metric Summaries in a Fish Belt Sample Unit

MERMAID automatically calculates and displays key fish metrics as you enter observations, providing immediate feedback for data validation and quality control—even while offline.

• Total Biomass (kg/ha) is calculated in real time based on the surveyed area (transect length × belt width), fish size estimates, and counts. Calculations use Bayesian length–weight coefficients sourced from FishBase.

• Total Abundance (count of individuals) is computed automatically as the sum of all individual fish counts entered in the Observations table.

Read more about these calculations in Learning About Our Taxonomic Reference.

When you're ready to enter your benthic observations from your dive sheets, navigate to your project's Collecting page and click + Add Sample Unit. Choose one of the benthic methods (i.e., Benthic PIT, Benthic LIT, or Benthic Photo Quadrat) to open a sample unit form organized into four main sections: Sample Event, Transect, Observers, Observations.

MERMAID Collect supports three widely used benthic methods, i.e., point intercept transect (PIT), line intercept transect (LIT), and photo quadrat transect (PQT). Read more about our benthic methods in Supported Survey Methods.

Completing a Benthic Sample Unit Form

1. Sample Event

Defines where and when the benthic survey data was conducted. You'll select:

• Site – From the list of sites added to the project. Learn more about adding sites here. 

• Management Regime – From the list of management regimes added to the project. Learn more about adding regimes here.

• Date of Survey – The date the sample unit was collected.

Each sample event (site, management regime, and date) is used to group your benthic sample units for the benthic % cover calculations in MERMAID. Read more in Learning about Our Reef Health Metrics.

Each sample event (site, management regime, and date) is used to group your sample units for the calculation of sample event summary for benthic % cover. Learn more in Learning about Our Reef Health Metrics.

2. Transect

Protocol-specific fields for the benthic survey: 

Some fields use standardized dropdowns (e.g., reef slope, visibility) while others accept numeric or text-free entries (e.g., depth, transect number, transect length surveyed).

3. Observers

In this section, assign the person(s) who collected the observations underwater:

• Select from the list of project users

• Click to add or remove names

• At least one observer is required per sample unit

Accurate attribution helps with training, reporting, and quality assurance.

4. Observations

Here’s where you enter your actual data (observations):

Suggesting a New Benthic Attribute

If a benthic attribute isn’t yet listed in the dropdown:

1. Type its name in the Observations table.

2. Select Propose New Benthic Attribute...

3. Enter the coral genus/family/top-level category in Parent and the species/genus in Name

4. Click Next to review.

5. Click Send to MERMAID to submit it for review.

If the parent (genus/family/top-level category) is missing, select Contact us for help to notify the MERMAID team.

The benthic taxonomy in MERMAID is standardized using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) to ensure consistent species classification.

You can download the full list of available benthic attributes using the Reference icon in MERMAID Collect.

Tips for Data Entry: Keyboard Shortcuts and Predictive Text 

Use these keyboard shortcuts and the predictive text to move quickly through the Observations table in a sample unit form:

• Use the Tab key to move across fields in a row.

• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through benthic attribute suggestions.

• Under the column Benthic Attribute, type a few letters of your observation (e.g., Acropal for Acropora palmata), then use the arrow keys and Enter/Return/Tab to select it from the matching dropdown options. Or type until there’s only one option and press Enter/Return.

• Press Tab at the end of a row to duplicate the observation in the next row—useful for entering multiple observations of the same benthic attribute in a transect. 

• Press Enter/Return to start a new row and begin typing the next observation.

This helps ensure consistent naming and speeds up your workflow—especially when entering lots of observations.

Metric Summaries in a Benthic Sample Unit

MERMAID automatically calculates and displays key benthic metrics as you enter observations, providing immediate feedback for data validation and quality control—even while offline.

For all benthic methods, percent cover is automatically calculated for each top-level benthic category (e.g., hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae) based on the observations you enter. These percentages are displayed beneath the Observations table. Each benthic attribute entered is hierarchically grouped into these broader categories commonly used in global reef monitoring.

Read more about these calculations in Learning About Our Taxonomic Reference.

When you’re ready to enter bleaching data from your dive sheets, go to your project’s Collecting page and click + Add Sample Unit. Select the Bleaching method to open a sample unit form organized into four main sections: Sample Event, Transect, Observers, Observations. 

The bleaching method supported in MERMAID follows the rapid assessment field method as described in the McClanahan and Darling protocol. Each sampling unit consists of a collection of quadrats surveyed during a single dive or snorkel, with bleaching severity assessed for individual coral colonies and recorded at the genus level. A more detailed description and video tutorial of the method can be found in Supported Survey Methods.

Completing a Bleaching Sample Unit Form

1. Sample Event

This section defines where and when the bleaching survey data was conducted. You'll select:

• Site – From the list of sites added to the project. Learn more about adding sites here. 

• Management Regime – From the list of management regimes added to the project. Learn more about adding management regimes here.

• Date of Survey – The date the sample unit was collected.

Each sample event (site, management regime, and date) is used to group your sample units for the % colonies by bleaching severity category calculations in MERMAID. Read more in Learning about Our Reef Health Metrics.

2. Quadrat Collection 

Protocol-specific fields for the bleaching survey:

• Depth (m)

• Quadrat size (m²)

• Optional Fields – Reef Slope, Visibility, Current, Relative Depth, Tide, Notes.

Some fields use dropdowns with standardized values (e.g., visibility, current, relative depth); others are free text or numeric fields for flexibility (e.g., depth, quadrat size).

3. Observers

In this section, assign the person(s) who collected the observations underwater:

• Select from the list of project users

• Click to add or remove names

• At least one observer is required per sample unit

Accurate attribution helps with training, reporting, and quality assurance.

4. Observations

Here’s where you enter your actual data (raw observations):

In MERMAID Collect, observations from this survey are recorded in two separate Observations tables: 

• Observations - Colonies Bleached table records the total number of colonies in each bleaching category (i.e., normal, pale, 0-20% bleached, 21-50% bleached, 51-80% bleached, 81-100% bleached, recently dead) per coral genus (Benthic Attribute). 

• Observations - Percent Cover table records the % cover of hard coral, soft coral, and macroalgae for each quadrat.

Suggesting a New Benthic Attribute

If a benthic attribute isn’t yet listed in the dropdown:

1. Type its name in the Observations table.

2. Select Propose New Benthic Attribute...

3. Enter the coral genus/family/top-level category in Parent and the species/genus name in Name.

4. Click Next to review.

5. Click Send to MERMAID to submit it for review.

If the parent (genus/family/top-level category) is missing, select Contact us for help to notify the MERMAID team.

The benthic taxonomy in MERMAID is standardized using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) to ensure consistent species classification.

You can download the full list of available benthic attributes using the Reference icon in MERMAID Collect.

Tips for Data Entry: Keyboard Shortcuts and Predictive Text 

Use these keyboard shortcuts and the predictive text to move quickly through the Observations table in a sample unit form:

• Use the Tab key to move across fields in a row.

• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through benthic attributes suggestions.

• Under the column Benthic Attribute, type a few letters of your observation (e.g., Acropal for Acropora palmata), then use the arrow keys and Enter/Return/Tab to select it from the matching dropdown options. Or type until there’s only one option and press Enter/Return.

• Press Tab at the end of a row to duplicate the observation in the next row—useful for entering consecutive observations of the same benthic attribute in a transect. 

• Press Enter/Return to start a new row and begin typing the next observation.

This helps ensure consistent naming and speeds up your workflow—especially when entering lots of observations.

Metric Summaries in a Bleaching Sample Unit

As you enter observations in a sample unit, MERMAID automatically calculates and displays key metric summaries to provide quick insights and support data quality checks — all available even when you’re offline.

For the bleaching method, MERMAID calculates:

• Total number of coral colonies, and coral genera

• % normal colonies, pale colonies, and bleached colonies

• Average % hard coral cover, soft coral cover, and macroalgae cover

These metrics are displayed beneath the Observations tables and help you evaluate the bleaching severity in real time.

Read more about these calculations in Learning About Our Reef Health Metrics.

When you’re ready to enter habitat complexity data from your dive sheets, go to your project’s Collecting page and click + Add Sample Unit. Select the Habitat Complexity method and fill out a structured form organized into four consistent sections. 

This method records observations of benthic habitat complexity on a scale of 0 to 5 based on methodology proposed in Wilson et al. (2007), and described in Darling et al. (2017). A more detailed description of the method can be found in Supported Survey Methods.

Completing a Habitat Complexity Sample Unit Form

1. Sample Event

This section defines where and when the data was collected. You'll select:

• Site – From the list of sites added to the project. Learn more about adding sites here. 

• Management Regime – From the list of management regimes added to the project. Learn more about adding management regimes here.

• Date of Survey – The date the sample unit was collected.

Each sample event (site, management regime, and date) is used to group your sample units for the reef health metrics calculations in MERMAID. Read more in Learning about Our Reef Health Metrics.

2. Transect Details

This section captures the protocol-specific details of the fish belt survey. You’ll need to fill:

• Transect number

• Depth

• Transect length surveyed (m)

• Interval size (m)

Some fields use dropdowns with standardized values (e.g., reef slope, visibility, current, relative depth); others are free text or numeric fields for flexibility (e.g., depth, transect length surveyed).

3. Observers

In this section, assign the person(s) who collected the observations underwater:

• Select from the list of project users

• Click to add or remove names

• At least one observer is required per sample unit

Accurate attribution helps with training, reporting, and quality assurance.

4. Observations

Here’s where you enter your actual data (raw observations).

Enter the habitat complexity score for each interval. The number of rows in this table must match the number of intervals surveyed along the transect length to ensure complete data entry.

Tips for Data Entry: Keyboard Shortcuts and Predictive Text 

Use these keyboard shortcuts and the predictive text to move quickly through the Observations table in a sample unit form:

• Use the Tab key to move across fields in a row.

• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through habitat complexity score suggestions.

• Click the Habitat Complexity Score column, then use the arrow keys and Enter/Return/Tab to select it from the dropdown options. 

• Press Tab at the end of a row to duplicate the observation in the next row—useful for entering multiple observations of the same complexity score in a transect. 

• Press Enter/Return to start a new row and begin typing the next observation.

This helps ensure consistent naming and speeds up your workflow—especially when entering lots of observations.

Metric Summaries in a Habitat Complexity Sample Unit

As you enter observations in a sample unit, MERMAID automatically calculates and displays key metric summaries to provide quick insights and support data quality checks — all available even when you’re offline.

For habitat complexity surveys, MERMAID calculates the average complexity score (scale 0–5) across all intervals entered. This provides an overview of structural habitat condition for each transect and this metric summary can be viewed in the exported data file once data is submitted in the Submitted page.

1. Saving a Sample Unit

Saving your work regularly is essential while collecting data in MERMAID Collect. Whether you're online or offline, all sample units are saved locally to your computer to ensure nothing is lost.

Here’s how saving works:

• When you enter new information into a sample unit, the Save button in the upper-right corner will turn bright red.

• Click the red Save button to save your progress.

• Once saved, the button will turn gray and display the label Saved, indicating there is no new data to save.

You can always return to any saved sample unit later to add or change data, then save again.

Automatic prompts for unsaved data

If you try to navigate away from a page with unsaved changes:

• MERMAID will show a warning message that you have unsaved data.

• Select Cancel to remain on the page and save.

• Select OK to leave the page without saving your recent changes.

2. Validating a Sample Unit

After saving your data in a sample unit, the next step is to validate it. Validation is like proofreading your data—it helps catch common errors, inconsistencies, missing observations or outliers before submission.

After saving your sample unit, the red Validate button becomes visible next to the Saved button at the top of the page. Click in Validate to start your validation. MERMAID will run automated checks across the form and observations. Once completed, the validation will either be successful or flag warnings and/or errors in your sample unit.  

If validation is successful 

Your sample unit has no issues. The Submit button will now be active in red, and the Validate button will be grayed out. Your sample unit is ready to be submitted.

If validation flags warnings and/or errors

A red message Errors or warnings are preventing you from submitting will appear under the Submit button if any issues are detected.

Warnings and errors are displayed in three places to help you quickly find and fix them:

• At the top of the page 

• Next to affected fields or rows (highlighted in yellow for warnings and red for errors)

• In the Validations column in the Observations table, if there are any issues with the observations. 

How to resolve warnings and/or errors

Warnings indicate unusual but possible data (e.g., an unusually large fish or unexpected coral genus). 

You can either:

• Resolve the warning by editing the data field or using the Resolve button next to the field.

• Ignore the warning by checking the Ignore warning box next to it or on top of the page next to the warning message, if your data is correct.

Errors indicate missing or invalid data (e.g., a required field left blank, an invalid value). These must be fixed before a sample unit can be submitted. Errors are marked clearly in red next to affected fields.

To resolve:

• Scroll to the error(s).

• Make the necessary correction(s).

After making changes, save and revalidate to confirm that the warning(s) and/or error(s) has been addressed. Repeat the process until all errors are cleared.

Each sample unit’s validation status is visible on the left side of each sample unit row in the Collecting page. Use this status to keep track of progress and know which units need attention. Read more in How Data Collection Works.

Each sample unit’s validation status is visible on the left side of each sample unit row in the Collecting page. Use this status to keep track of progress and know which units need attention. Read more in How Data Collection Works.

Common warnings and error messages  

Below are some of the most common warnings and errors you might encounter, and how to address them—organized by survey method.

3. Submitting a Sample Unit

Once all errors have been corrected and warnings have been addressed (or ignored), the Submit button will become active.

• Click the red Submit button to finalize the sample unit.

• After submission is complete, you’ll read a message Record submitted.

• Submitting moves it from your personal Collecting page to the shared Submitted page.

If you’re a Collector in the project: Submitting should only be done when your data is clean and complete. You can’t edit a sample unit after submitting it unless an Admin transfers it back to you.

4. After Submission

After submitting sample unit(s), all project users can:

• View and export submitted data from the Submitted page.

• View it in MERMAID Explore. Click the Globe icon next to your project name to jump straight to the map view in Explore and view your submitted data. Read more in Viewing Your Project(s) Only in Using MERMAID Explore. 

• Access it via the MERMAID R package in R using a filter function. Read more in Accessing Project Data from MERMAID. 

Only users with an Admin role can edit, unsubmit, or return a submitted sample unit to a Collector for further editing.

Discover Image Classification (Beta) in MERMAID Collect, our first feature powered by MERMAID AI.

Through a partnership with CoralNet from the University of California San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, MERMAID now includes AI-based support for benthic image analysis. Our Image Classification (Beta) feature leverages this collaboration, allowing you to streamline and standardize the processing of benthic photo quadrats. Upload entire transects, apply automatic point-based classification using a pre-trained model, and interactively review results—all within an efficient workflow from your project in MERMAID Collect.

Each photo is classified using a fixed grid of 25 points and a standardized set of benthic attribute labels, supporting data comparability across datasets and projects within MERMAID.

High-Level Workflow

The process is designed to be straightforward:

1. Enable Image Classification (Beta) for your benthic photo quadrat sample unit.

2. Upload your quadrat photos.

3. MERMAID AI automatically classifies 25 points in each photo.

4. Review and confirm all 25 points for each photo, making adjustments as needed.

5. Submit your validated data.

Ready to try it out? Here’s how to quickly enable and use the feature:

1. Navigate to your project in MERMAID Collect and go to the Collecting page.

2. Click +Add Sample Unit and select Benthic Photo Quadrat.

3. Click on Classify photos with AI (Beta).

4. Complete the required fields in the Sample Event and Transect sections. The “Number of quadrat points” will be automatically set to 25.

5. Click Upload Photos and add your images. The MERMAID AI model will begin processing immediately.

For more a detailed step-by-step guide, navigate to the next sections in Using Image Classification (Beta) for Benthic Photo Quadrats.

To ensure reliable and accurate classification results from the MERMAID AI model, it’s important to prepare and capture high-quality photos. The AI model depends on consistent visual input, so attention to photo quality, framing, and orientation directly improves classification performance and reduces the need for manual corrections.

Follow these best practices when capturing or preparing your photos from benthic photo quadrat surveys for classification in MERMAID Collect:

1. Ensure clear, in-focus photos

• Photos should be well-lit, sharp, and free of motion blur.

• Avoid photos with poor contrast or heavy shadows, which may obscure benthic features.

• Use a camera with a resolution of at least 12 megapixels for best results.

• Photo dimensions must be at least 1500 x 1500 pixels.

2. Minimize area outside the quadrat frame

• Crop your photos to include only the area within the photo quadrat, removing excess background and frame edges where possible.

• This ensures the AI model classifies only the benthic substrate and avoids mislabeling artifacts outside the sampling area.

• If your quadrat has a PVC or metal frame, it is acceptable for it to appear in the photo as long as it does not dominate the view.

3. Use a consistent top-down perspective

• Capture photos perpendicular to the reef surface to minimize distortion, and at a consistent distance from the benthic surface. 

• Ensure the quadrat is evenly aligned in the photo frame, without tilting or rotation.

4. Maintain consistent scale and coverage

• Use the same quadrat size and camera height throughout each transect in a survey to keep spatial resolution consistent.

• Ensure the entire quadrat area is visible and not cropped during capture.

5. Avoid obstructions

• Remove divers’ fins, measuring tapes, or equipment from the field of view before capturing the photo.

• Ensure no bubbles, debris, or marine life obstruct the benthic surface.

6. Standardize photo formats

• Upload photos in JPEG, PJPEG, MPO, or PNG format.

• Keep filenames clear and consistent (e.g., SiteName_Transect01_Quadrat05.jpg) for easier tracking and management.

In MERMAID Collect, you can either:

• Manually enter photo quadrat data (see the Benthic Photo Quadrat documentation) previously processed using an external software (e.g., CoralNet, CPCe, ReefCloud).

• Use Image Classification (Beta) to semi-automatically classify photos and review points.

To enable AI classification:

1. Navigate to your project from the main Projects page in MERMAID Collect.

2. Go to the Collecting page on the left sidebar.

3. Click on +Add Sample Unit on the top-right.

4. Select Benthic Photo Quadrat from the dropdown menu.

5. Click on Classify photos with AI (Beta). 

In the sample unit form, complete required fields (with the red asterisk *) in Sample Event and Transect sections. The field for “Number of quadrat points” in the Transect section will automatically be set to 25. You cannot edit this field.

After enabling Image Classification (Beta) and completing all required fields in the form, click Upload Photos at the bottom of the page. Drag and drop multiple photos or select from your computer. MERMAID will automatically assign a quadrat number for each photo based on the upload sequence. 

Once uploaded, the MERMAID AI model will immediately begin processing and classifying each photo.

After processing, classified and unclassified points (25 total) appear in the Observations table for each photo, representing separate individual quadrats.

Each classified photo must be manually reviewed. All 25 points for each photo require your confirmation, including both model-classified and unclassified points. 

Understanding Point Markers:

• Grey dashed squares: Unclassified points that require manual classification and confirmation. 

• Orange dashed squares: Points automatically classified by the model that still need to be reviewed and confirmed. 

• Solid orange squares: Points that have already been confirmed by the user. 

When reviewing and confirming points—whether classified by the model or unclassified—you should identify the dominant benthic attribute visible within the entire square. The ‘+’ is a guide to the centre of the square, but the model will use pixels in the full square to classify a benthic attribute. If there are multiple attributes in a square, we recommend choosing the most visually prominent component inside the square. 

Confirmed attributes may include both a benthic attribute (e.g., Hard Coral) and a specific growth form (e.g., Branching) or just a benthic attribute (e.g., Stylophora). A full list of detectable attributes is provided in the “Benthic Attribute Labels Used in Image Classification (Beta)” section below. 

To systematically review and confirm points: 

1. Click Review next to a photo or directly on it in the Observations table to open the review window.

2. Click on each square point to review and confirm a benthic attribute. A pop-up will show the model classification (classifier guess) with the confidence level for the guess. 

3. Click Confirm to accept the model classification.

4. Or select another benthic attribute from the dropdown below (which lists other attributes classified in the photo), or click on Select new attribute to add a new benthic attribute and a growth form (optional), then click Confirm. 

   Note: You can select a new benthic attribute based on the MERMAID taxonomic reference and confirm the point with that attribute (our benthic taxonomic reference can be found here).

5. Confirmed points turn solid orange, and the total number of confirmed points will be updated for each benthic attribute in the table.

6. You can confirm all points assigned to the same benthic attribute at once by clicking the Confirm all button on the right side of the attribute row in the table.

7. Use left/right arrows to navigate through all 25 points. The right arrow takes you to the next unconfirmed point.

8. When all points are confirmed, click Save changes and close the window.

9. Repeat for all uploaded photos.

10. To delete an image, click the red X icon in the Observations table.

Once all uploaded photos have been reviewed and all points confirmed, save, validate and submit your benthic photo quadrat sample unit, following the same procedures as for any other sample unit.

The review window offers several tools to help you efficiently review and confirm point classifications:

Point Markers Visual Key:

• Grey dashed squares: unclassified

• Orange dashed squares: model-classified

• Orange solid squares: confirmed by user

Table Interaction:

• Hovering over a table row highlights associated points to the benthic attribute in light grey in the photo.

• Clicking a table row selects/deselects associated points to the benthic attribute. When selected, associated points are highlighted in white on the photo.

• Zoom into all points of a table row associated with a benthic attribute using the magnifying glass icon.

Zoom Controls:

• Zoom the photo using +/- buttons on the photo, mouse scroll, trackpad, or double-click.

• Reset the view using the Reset icon.

Visibility Toggles:

• Toggle label visibility to show/hide benthic attribute labels on each point.

How the model works

The MERMAID AI: Image Classification (Beta) model was developed in collaboration with CoralNet, using its pyspacer framework for training deep learning models for image classification. Details of the pyspacer framework can be found in the following publication:

The MERMAID AI model was trained using a diverse set of publicly available CoralNet images. By integrating the majority of public CoralNet training data into a single generalized model, the MERMAID AI model makes reasonable inferences for a diverse set of images.

You can review the performance results for the MERMAID AI model in this GitHub documentation.

MERMAID is committed to the continuous improvement and refinement of this model.

Benthic attribute labels used in the model

The image classification model is currently trained on both top-level benthic categories and coral genera with growth forms, listed below. MERMAID aims to continuously improve and expand the benthic attributes used in the training and model classifications. We will continue to update this list, as image classifications for more benthic attributes are added by MERMAID users.

Top-Level Benthic Categories:

Coral Genera and Growth Forms:

When you upload photos for Image Classification (Beta) in MERMAID Collect, you’re helping build a global resource for coral reef science and improve MERMAID AI for all users. These photos power new AI and machine learning tools that help identify benthic attributes automatically from coral reef images. To support this innovation, MERMAID treats your photos differently from your other data.

Here's What You Need to Know:

1. Your photos are anonymized and stored in a public bucket.
All uploaded photos are stored in a public bucket on Amazon Web Services (AWS). MERMAID automatically strips these photos of all EXIF metadata, including personal and location data such as the date, time, and GPS coordinates, ensuring they are anonymized.

2. Your data sharing policy applies only to your project data, not your photos.
Even if your project is set to “Private” or “Public summary”, photos may still be used publicly for training and improving MERMAID’s AI image classification models. While photos are publicly accessible via the AWS bucket, your classification results and other project data remain protected by the data sharing policy you've selected for your project(s). These outputs are not publicly accessible and cannot be linked back to your project through the photos. Users cannot access your classification results or any other project data unless explicitly shared through your project’s data sharing policy (i.e., Public summary or Public).

3. Your photos may be used for AI and other public tools.
Once stripped of metadata and being anonymized, your photos may be shared publicly and used by MERMAID and others for:

• Training machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) models for MERMAID AI.

• Creating labeled or annotated datasets.

• Improving coral reef monitoring tools. This helps MERMAID provide faster, smarter tools for all users of the platform.

4. No one can see where your photos were taken—unless they’re in your team.
Other users (including the public) won’t see which project, site, or transect your photos came from. Only authenticated users within your project team can access this additional information, through the MERMAID API or internal project access e.g., using MERMAID Collect. 

5. You retain control of your project and data.
While your photos may be used in broader ways to enhance AI models, your observations, site-level summaries, and other project data remain protected according to the data sharing policy you’ve selected. This ensures that only anonymized photos are used to improve machine learning models for coral reef monitoring. 

See more on the MERMAID Terms of Service. 

Managing Your Projects 

The Projects page is your main space where you’ll find every project you’re part of—whether you're a user with an Admin, Collector, or Read-Only role.

At a glance, you’ll see key stats for each project:

• Number of unsubmitted and submitted sample units

• Sites 

• Users 

• Data sharing policies selected per survey method

If you have an Admin role, you'll see an Admin tag by the project name. 

You can also check whether a project is enabled for offline use by inspecting the Offline Ready box in each project card. 

Quick Navigation to Projects

You can hop into your Projects page anytime by clicking MERMAID Collect at the top left or the Projects tab in the top menu. Want to jump right into collecting data or managing users in a project? Each section on a project card on the page links directly to tabs:

• Collecting

• Submitted 

• Sites

• Data Sharing

This gives you one-click access to the sections you need to keep your project moving. 

Copying Projects

Running a repeat survey or working with different stakeholders like donors who require separate datasets? Use the Copy button on a project card to create a new project with the exact same setup as the existing one—no need to rebuild it from the ground up.

This is ideal for:

• Seasonal or annual survey cycles

• Projects tied to different funding sources or partners

• Cases where data must be kept separate due to sharing restrictions

Copying a project preserves its structure—project info, users, organizations, sites, management regimes, and data sharing settings—so you can get started faster and stay consistent across projects.

Clicking Copy duplicates the project’s:

• Project info

• Organization(s)

• Users and their roles

• Data sharing policies

• Sites

• Management regimes

This saves time and ensures consistency across projects—especially useful when managing surveys across multiple years or regions.

Filtering and Sorting Projects

On the Projects page, you can easily find the project you’re looking for:

• Filter projects by name or country using the search field labeled Filter Projects by Name or Country.

• Sort projects using the dropdown menu next to the filter field. You can sort by:

  • Last updated date

  • Project name

  • Country 

Navigating to MERMAID Explore

From the Projects page, you can jump straight into MERMAID Explore while staying logged in.

Simply click MERMAID Explore in the top-right corner of the page, or click the globe icon next to the PROJECTS title.

Downloading References

Need MERMAID’s list of fish and benthic attributes? You can download the latest Reference file directly in the top-right corner of the Projects page.

Project Notifications

Stay up to date the notification bell in the top-right corner of the Projects page.

• A red dot indicates there are new notifications, such as:

  • Project changes

  • MERMAID product updates or feature releases

• Click Dismiss all notifications to clear them once reviewed.

Managing Data in a Project

Once you’re inside a project, MERMAID makes it easy to track progress of data collection and pinpoint where your team’s attention is needed.

The OVERVIEW section provides a high-level snapshot of your project's status—so you can quickly monitor survey progress, check for missing submissions, and ensure data consistency across your sites. It includes two tabs:

Sample Units / Observers

This tab shows what data has been submitted—and what’s still pending. You can filter the table by site or method and sort the table based on site and/or method.

For each site and method, you can:

• View individual submitted sample units under Submitted on the table’s left side. This column will only appear if there is at least one submitted sample unit in a project.

• View individual unsubmitted sample units for each user under Collecting on the table’s right side.

• Hover on any sample unit number to view additional details like last editor, observer(s), site name, management regime, and survey date.

• Click View Submitted Sample Unit to jump directly into the submitted data.

Sample Units / Management Regimes

This tab organizes submitted sample units by management regime—helping you verify governance-related data accuracy. You can filter the table by site or method and sort the table based on site and/or method.

Note that only management regimes with submitted data will appear. 

For each site and method, you can:

• View individual submitted sample units by management regime

• Click on any sample unit number to jump directly into the submitted data.

Filtering Sample Units 

To focus your review, both tabs include filter options at the top so you can narrow the sample units shown by site and method.

You can filter by:

• Site – Enter the site name in the Filter this table by site field (top left)

• Survey Method – Select the method from the Filter Method dropdown (top right)

As you apply filters, the sample unit totals update automatically—giving you real-time feedback on your data view.

MERMAID allows you to reassign and edit sample units to help teams manage data entry smoothly—especially when someone leaves a project or can’t complete their work.

Transferring Unsubmitted Sample Units (Admins only)

If a team member hasn’t finished entering data and is no longer available, an Admin can transfer their unsubmitted sample units to another user so someone else can pick up where they left off—without losing any data.

How to transfer unsubmitted data:

1. Go to the Users page in your project.

2. Click Transfer next to the original user's name.

3. Choose the new user who should receive the unsubmitted sample units from the dropdown options.

4. Confirm by clicking Transfer Sample Units. All transferred unsubmitted sample units will be available in the assigned user’s Collecting page. 

Editing Submitted Sample Units (Admins Only)

1. Go to the Submitted page within your project.

2. Click the sample unit you want to edit from the list.

3. Click Edit Sample Unit – Move to Collecting to open it for editing. The sample unit is now available in your Collecting page. 

Alternatively, you can select a sample unit from one of the OVERVIEW pages (Sample Units / Observers and Sample Units / Management Regimes), then click on the Edit Sample Unit – Move to Collecting button to start editing from your Collecting page.

Editing Unsubmitted Sample Units (Collectors and Admins)

Users with the Collector or Admin role can edit sample units before submission, and from their Collecting page. They can make edits at any time by opening their sample unit in their Collecting page. Once submitted, edits are restricted to project Admins.

MERMAID makes it easy to export submitted data for further analysis or reporting. All users—whether Admin, Collector, or Read-Only—can export data from a project.

Exporting Data from a Project 

You can export submitted sample units in tabular XLSX format directly from the Submitted page in your project.

How to export data:

1. Go to the Submitted page in your project.

2. Click the Export to XLSX button and select the method you want to export data for. 

   • Only methods with submitted sample units will be selectable. Greyed-out options mean no data has been submitted for that method.

3. You’ll get a confirmation message Export Successful. A download link will be sent to your MERMAID account email. 

4. Click the link in your email message to download the XLSX file.

All submitted sample units using a selected method will be combined into one spreadsheet.

You must be online to export data, and only submitted sample units can be exported.

If your project is a test project: 

You can export data from test projects for trial analysis—but these data:

• Will not be included in the metric summaries in MERMAID Explore

• Will not appear as charts in MERMAID Explore

To change a test project to an actual project:

1. Go to the Data Sharing page in the project’s sidebar.

2. Uncheck the checkbox This is a test project at the bottom.

3. Wait approximately 15 minutes for the data to sync with the server.

Exported Data Files

MERMAID provides standardized export files in XLXS format, which include all submitted sample units at the observation level (this is your raw data) and calculated metric summaries at the sample unit and sample event levels. These files are designed to support both quick review and in-depth analysis using tools like Excel, R, or other data platforms.

How exported data files are formatted

Each exported XLSX file contains the same set of standardized tabs:

These tabs provide progressively more granular data:

• Sample Event: Aggregated at site-date-depth level

• Sample Units: Aggregated within each sample unit

• Observations: Raw-level observation data

What Metric Summaries Are Included 

Exported files include all metric summaries that are automatically calculated within MERMAID—and often more. For each method, MERMAID provides average values and standard deviations per sample event to help you assess variability across your data.

These metrics mirror the summaries you see in MERMAID’s Collect for each sample unit—but also give a more complete, project-level picture in the export file. 

Analyzing Data with the MERMAID R Package

For reproducible workflows, researchers and practitioners can access these same data tables programmatically via the MERMAID R package in R. The package includes tools to:

• Retrieve project metadata and raw-level observation data

• Access metric summaries at sample event and sample unit levels

• Perform automated filtering and analysis

Read more in Using MERMAID R Package.

MERMAID allows project Admins to delete both data and entire projects—however, multiple steps are required to ensure accidental deletions are avoided and essential data is protected.

Deleting a Sample Unit

In MERMAID, deleting sample units depends on who’s collecting the data and whether the data has been submitted.

Unsubmitted Sample Units

Only the user who originally entered the data can delete unsubmitted sample units—from their own Collecting page. 

To delete your own unsubmitted sample unit:

1. Go to your Collecting page.

2. Open the sample unit.

3. Scroll to the bottom and click Delete Record.

4. In the confirmation modal, click Delete Record again to confirm.

If you are a project admin and need to delete another user's unsubmitted sample unit, transfer the sample unit to yourself from the Users page, then delete it from your own Collecting page.

Submitted Sample Units

Only project admins can delete submitted sample units. To do so, admins must first move the sample unit to their Collecting page.

To delete a submitted sample unit:

1. Go to the Submitted tab.

2. Open the sample unit.

3. Click Edit Sample Unit – Move to Collecting.

4. The sample unit will now appear in your Collecting page.

5. Open it, scroll to the bottom, and click Delete Record.

6. Confirm deletion in the popup window.

Deleting a Project

Removing unused, test, or duplicate projects helps keep your Projects page organized and clutter-free.

When to Delete a Project

You may want to delete a project if:

• It was created for testing or training

• It contains no valuable data

• It is a duplicate of another project

Project Deletion Requirements

To delete a project, you must:

1. Be an Admin on the project

2. Remove all users

3. Delete all submitted and unsubmitted sample units

Only after completing these steps will the Delete Project button be available. MERMAID prevents deletion of any project that still contains users or data.

Step-by-Step: Deleting a Project

1. Remove All Users

• Go to the Users page in the project’s sidebar.

• Click the Remove From Project (red button) next to each user.

2. Delete All Sample Units

You must delete both:

• Unsubmitted sample units from the Collecting page

• Submitted sample units from the Submitted page

The deletion process depends on whether you are the original data Collector or a project Admin.

To delete your own unsubmitted sample unit:

• Go to your Collecting page

• Open the sample unit

• Scroll to the bottom and click Delete Record

To delete an unsubmitted sample unit from another user:

1. Go to the Users page.

2. Click Transfer next to the original user’s name.

3. Select yourself or another user who’ll delete them as the new owner.

4. The transferred sample units will appear in the new owner’s Collecting page.

5. Open and delete them from there.

To delete a submitted sample unit:

• Go to the Submitted tab

• Click the sample unit to open it

• Click Edit Sample Unit – Move to Collecting

• Then follow the same steps to delete it from your Collecting page

Only project Admins can delete submitted sample units.

3. Delete the Project

Once all users and data have been removed:

• Go to the Project Info page

• Click Delete Project

• In the confirmation modal, click Delete [Project Name] to confirm