How the Census Works
To discover ocean life
The 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 Ocean Census Science Network unites taxonomists and marine scientists from +400 institutes to power the Census, advancing species discovery through expeditions, unlocking legacy collections, Species Discovery Workshops and Awards, and harnessing imaging, sequencing and AI technologies.
The Ocean Census is co-founded by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, and an endorsed Programme of the UN Ocean Decade.
“We are in a race against time to discover ocean life before it is lost for generations to come. The Ocean Census will create an immense wealth of openly accessible knowledge that will benefit and sustain all life on Earth, for humankind and our planet”
Yohei Sasakawa, Chair of The Nippon Foundation.
The Team
The Ocean Census Team coordinates Alliance activities and the delivery of our core programmes — including expeditions, the Science Network, Species Discovery Workshops & Awards, the Biodiversity Data Platform along with public and policy engagement.
Founding Partners
The Nippon Foundation, the largest non-profit foundation in Japan that was established in 1962 for the purpose of carrying out philanthropic activities in areas that extend from eradicating leprosy, providing free education, food security, and above all, issues that surround the marine environment and maritime safety.
Nekton’s mission is to advance the scientific exploration of the ocean. Nekton undertakes expeditions, applied research, storytelling, and knowledge exchange programmes, co-created and implemented with the Nekton Network—an alliance of over 100 scientific, government, business, philanthropic, and civil society partners. Together, Nekton works to create a more valued ocean, recognised for its essential role in supporting all life on earth. Nekton is a not-profit charitable foundation, operating globally with headquarters in the UK.
How We’re Achieving the Mission
We are reimagining discovery – fast, open, collaborative, equitable and at scale – to advance fundamental science, empower conservation and fuel innovation to sustain and advance life on Earth.
What we do
Global
Expeditions
The Ocean Census conducts expeditions in some of the most under-explored, biodiverse and ecological important regions to discover new species
Species Discovery
Awards
Millions of unidentified marine species remain in museum and research collections without the resources for identification and discovery. The Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards fund taxonomists to unlock these legacy collections.
Species Discovery Workshops
The Ocean Census Species Discovery Workshops identify and catalogue marine species from specimens collected from Ocean Census expeditions and from within legacy collections.
Open Data
Sharing
All discoveries are published, open-access – and rapidly – on the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform to advance science, policy, innovation, and ocean conservation.
Public & Policy Engagement
The Ocean Census amplifies the story of ocean life and the activities of the Alliance and Science Network.
Join the census
An Alliance of scientists, governments, marine research institutes, museums, philanthropy, technology, media and civil society partners.
