Over 1,100 New Marine Species Discovered | Ocean Census

About

Our MissionOur MissionOur mission is to accelerate the discovery of ocean life to advance fundamental science, empower conservation and fuel innovation for the future of our planet.

How the Census WorksHow the Census WorksThe Census is jointly undertaken by the Ocean Census Alliance – uniting national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.

The AllianceThe AllianceThe Ocean Census Alliance is a growing network of scientists, governments, marine institutes, museums, philanthropy, technology, media and civil society partners working together to accelerate species discovery.

TeamThe TeamThe Ocean Census Secretariat coordinates Alliance activities, managing and funding core programmes including expeditions, the Science Network, Species Discovery Workshops and Awards and Ocean Census NOVA.

FAQsFAQsThis FAQ section answers common questions about the Ocean Census, our research, expeditions, and the impact of species discovery. If you don’t find what you're looking for, feel free to get in touch.

CareersCareersBe part of the world’s largest effort to discover and document ocean life. At the Ocean Census, we bring together scientists, explorers, technologists, and communicators to accelerate species discovery and expand global biodiversity knowledge.

ContactContactFor general inquiries, partnership opportunities, or media requests, contact us, and a member of our team will get back to you.

Join the Census

Joining the CensusJoin the CensusJoin the Ocean Census and reimagine discovery - fast, open, collaborative, equitable and at scale.

ScientistsScientistsUniting scientists from over 650+ marine institutes to power the Census and scale species discovery – through expeditions, Species Discovery Workshops and Awards and give voice to the Census.

Research InstitutesResearch InstitutesEnabling the Census to operate at scale – leading and participating in expeditions, workshops, unlocking legacy collections, data publishing, advancing related biodiversity research, and policy and public engagement.

Government & Policy MakersGovernment & Policy MakersDrawing on Ocean Census species data to underpin national and international climate, biodiversity, and development strategies and commitments – whilst helping to scale the Census through directing national research institutes, resources and capacity to participate in and contribute to the global programme.

Philanthropy & FundersPhilanthropy & FundersUnderpinning the Census, scaling species discovery in priority areas and advancing science, capacity development, policy implementation, innovation and ocean protection at national and global scales.

Business & EnterpriseBusiness & EnterpriseFrom data to sequencing, from marine operations to imaging, from finance to media, businesses deploy their skills, resources and brand power – serving to speed up, scale up and increase the impact of our mission – to discover ocean life.

NGOs & Civil Society NGOs & Civil Society Turning scientific discoveries from the Census into planetary action – and galvanise national and international programs to protect biodiversity, strengthen capacity and inspire public and policy engagement and action.

Science Network

The NetworkScience NetworkThe Ocean Census Science Network is a worldwide community of marine biologists, taxonomists, geneticists, ecologists, and conservationists working together to accelerate species discovery and expand our knowledge of ocean life.

Join the NetworkJoin the NetworkGain access to expeditions, Discovery Workshops, research funding, training, and a global community of scientists working to uncover the ocean’s hidden biodiversity.

Species Discovery AwardsSpecies Discovery AwardsSupporting exceptional taxonomists, biodiversity, and community scientists in marine species discovery. These awards focus on advancing research, particularly from legacy collections, to uncover new marine species from specimens stored in museums and research institutes.

WorkshopsWorkshopsUniting taxonomists, geneticists, marine biologists, and ecologists to identify, classify, and describe new marine species. Using high-resolution imaging, genetic barcoding, and sequencing, these workshops accelerate discovery while sharing knowledge and co-developing scalable techniques across the programme.

ResourcesResourcesThe Ocean Census Resources Hub provides access to scientific publications, expedition reports, scientific data handling guidelines, and policy insights.

Expeditions

About ExpeditionsExpeditionsThe Ocean Census Expeditions are unlocking the secrets of marine biodiversity, travelling to some of the most unexplored and biologically rich regions of the ocean.

Expeditions ArchiveExpeditions ArchiveOur expeditions are made possible through global partnerships with scientists, research institutions, governments, and...