A Global Mission

The Ocean Census is a global mission to discover, document and share the diversity of life in our ocean — before it’s lost.

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We are an Alliance of scientists, governments, marine research institutes, museums, philanthropy, technology, media and civil society partners.

News

Unearthing Marine Worms | Updates from Dr. Laetitia Gunton at the International Workshop on Polychaetes

The workshop brought together taxonomic specialists from across the world to work on these rare samples, including specimens that may not have been investigated otherwise.

06/02/25

Investigating Maldivian & Seychellois Samples at the Indian Ocean Species Discovery Workshop

The Indian Ocean Species Discovery Workshop (2025) unites global marine scientists to analyse sponges and octocorals from Nekton mission samples.

29/01/25

PAPER PUBLISHED: Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the newly discovered Borealis Mud Volcano

One would think that a volcano was not the most hospitable place for living organisms. However, the Borealis Mud Volcano, at ~ 400 m water depth, acts as a sanctuary for a number of marine species.

28/01/25

Amid a Sea of Stars, Our Blue Planet Shines the Brightest: Insights from the 17th Deep Sea Biology Symposium

There has never been a better, nor more important time to be a marine biologist.

23/01/25

Spotlighting Dr Belén Arias

Highlighting the work of Dr Belén Arias, the Science Manager for Species Discovery & Sequencing at the Ocean Census

22/01/25

“Why should we care about a ‘worm’?” | An Interview with Dr. Franziska Sophie Bergmeier, Solenogastres Expert

These small, "worm-like" creatures might not have the charismatic appeal of octopuses or dolphins, but they play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems and offer valuable insights into biodiversity and evolution.

16/01/25

That’s a Wrap! A timeline of Achievements at the Ocean Census in 2024

In 2024, the Ocean Census achieved exciting milestones in advancing the understanding and discovery of marine biodiversity.

20/12/24

Nominations are open for the WoRMS Top-Ten Marine Species of 2024

It's time to shine a light on the top ten remarkable new marine species from 2024.

18/12/24

From Abstract to Action: Our Communication Insights from CommOcean

Whether it’s learning to balance accuracy with relatability, harnessing the power of storytelling, or turning the abstract into action, CommOcean offered an ocean of insight for communicators.

11/12/24

Expedition
Spotlight

Marshall Islands

27 July – 17 August 2025

The Ocean Census is joining the Ocean Exploration Trust on it’s Marshall Islands Expedition to explore biodiverse deep-sea habitats.

Join the census

An Alliance of scientists, governments, marine research institutes, museums, philanthropy, technology, media and civil society partners.