How the Census Works
To discover ocean life
The Ocean Census is the largest marine biodiscovery endeavour ever undertaken. It is jointly delivered 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 +580 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 Lead Partners fund, co-design and oversee the Programme supported by a Steering Council and Advisory Boards. Programme Partners fund and co-design specific programme activities of the Census.
The Ocean Census is co-founded by Nekton and The Nippon Foundation, and is 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.
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
The Ocean Census Alliance unites national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.
