Reimagining Discovery
Reimagining Discovery
The Ocean Census is reimagining discovery from declining, slow, siloed and under-resourced to fast, open, collaborative and planetary at scale.
of Ocean
Species Remain Undiscovered
Our mission is to accelerate the discovery of ocean life to advance fundamental science, empower conservation and fuel innovation for the future
of our planet.
The 10-year programme is endorsed as a
major Programme of
the United Nations
Ocean Decade
Why
it
matters
Earth is the only known place in the Universe where there is complex biology. Ocean life has evolved over four billion years and is our planet’s superpower making all life on Earth possible – giving us the air to breathe, regulating our climate, feeding us and providing cures for our diseases.
Currently, over 90% of ocean species remain undiscovered, far less is protected and much is under threat.
Accelerating the discovery of ocean life advances fundamental ocean science, empowers marine conservation and fuels innovation.
To understand life, sustain and protect it, we must first discover it.
#everydiscoverycounts
Join the census
The Ocean Census is undertaken by the Ocean Census Alliance, uniting national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, universities and scientists, and backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.
Join science network
Participate in expeditions, attend discovery workshops, and apply for funding through our awards.
Join the Alliance
Help scale species discovery through participating in the Census or providing funding, resources or in-kind support.
Explore species
View newly discovered marine species through the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform.
THE CENSUS IN ACTION
Expeditions
Our expeditions explore some of the ocean’s most under-surveyed, biodiverse and ecological regions. They focus on collecting specimens for scientific analysis and contribute vital data to the global marine species record. Click a location to learn more about each mission.
Species Discovery Workshops
These workshops unite taxonomists around the world to identify and catalogue marine species, using specimens collected from expeditions and museum collections. Select a workshop location to explore its outcomes.
Ocean Census
NOVA
An open-access hub dedicated to
‘discovered’ new marine species
This platform streamlines the journey of novel species data from initial input and quality assurance to global public presentation, enabling rapid publication and broader utilisation.
Spotlight Discovery:
Coral Sea Ray
258 – 281 metres
Found
Discovered during the Coral Sea expedition (2025)
Interesting fact
This new species of ray was discovered during a late 2025 expedition to the Coral Sea Marine Park, northeast of Australia, in partnership with CSIRO, supported by Parks Australia & Bushblitz. Collected at a depth between 258 and 281 metres, the specimen was identified by CSIRO ichthyologist Dr William White at the Ocean Census Species Discovery Workshop in Hobart. It is part of a major discovery of over 110 new species found within the Coral Sea Marine Park.
Spotlight Discovery:
Sea Pen
805 metres
Found
Discovered during the South Sandwich Islands expedition (2025)
Interesting fact
Discovered at 805 metres on Mystery Ridge in the South Sandwich Islands, this elegant sea pen is a striking addition to Antarctic biodiversity. Though some species resemble antique quill pens, these organisms are actually colonial corals. Unlike reef-building corals that cling to rock, the majority of sea pens act like trees of the soft-bottomed deep sea, using a muscular bulb to anchor themselves in the sediment. Each colony is a cooperative of specialised polyps: some act as biological pumps to keep the structure upright, while others filter-feed from the passing current. Identified by Dr Raissa Hogan during the 2025 expedition in partnership with Schmidt Ocean Institute, this specimen is currently undergoing genetic analysis to confirm its exact evolutionary lineage.
Spotlight Discovery:
SEA CAVE SHRIMP
15-35 metres
Found
Discovered in Marseille, France (2025)
Interesting fact
Discovered between 15-35m in a sea cave close to Marseille, France, this striking new species of shrimp proves that major marine discoveries are still being made in the heart of Europe. Defined by its vivid orange banding and intricate appendages, the specimen was identified by taxonomist Hossein Ashrafi. By adding this species to the global record, Ocean Census continues to build the high-precision biodiversity inventories required for effective conservation management in the Mediterranean, a region under intense human and environmental pressure.
Expedition
Spotlight
OceanX Timor-Leste
Leg one: 20th October to 11th November
Leg two: 2nd to 14th December
The Ocean Census-OceanX Timor-Leste Expedition 2026 is a marine research mission bringing together OceanX, the Government of Timor-Leste and the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL). Using crewed submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and diver-led sampling aboard the R/V OceanXplorer, the expedition aims to discover new marine species and document biodiversity in some of Timor-Leste’s least-explored waters, from the northern coast to the country’s eastern reaches and Jaco Island.
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Join the census
The Ocean Census Alliance unites national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.
