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.

Videos

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Video Spotlight

The Ocean Census Discovers Over 800 New Marine Species

The Ocean Census Discovers Over 800 New Marine Species

10 Mar 2025

Gorgonians of the Mesophotic, Discovering new deep sea coral species with Dr. Sonia Rowley

In this short film, marine biologist Dr Sonia Rowley, a 2024 Ocean Census Species Discovery Awardee, takes us into the mesophotic zone, the twilight depths between shallow reefs and the deep sea, to explore the hidden world of gorgonian corals.

18 Aug 2025

Discovering the Ocean’s Lost Sharks, with Dr Dave Ebert

The Ocean Census joins Dr. Dave Ebert, known as the ‘Lost Shark Guy’, and scientists at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) to investigate one of the ocean’s most endangered and overlooked groups: guitarfish.

14 Jul 2025

I’m a marine scientist! Why should I join the Ocean Census Science Network?

The Ocean Census Science Network is a worldwide community of over 1000 marine scientists, taxonomists and citizen scientists, working together for species discovery.

28 Aug 2025

Videos

Scientists explain why we must act now

Ocean Census scientists explain why we must act now to preserve ocean life. In the midst of pivotal discussions at COP28, the Ocean Census Macaronesia Expedition welcomed  Counsellor Mariano H. Zapata, Ecological Transition and Energy, Government of the Canary Islands, to mission headquarters at Radazul Marina, Tenerife.

30/11/23

Taxonomy and the Biodiversity Crisis

Professor Alex Rogers, Science Director for Ocean Census, led the second lecture in Senckenberg's Distinguished Lecture Series in June. He explored the biodiversity crisis and gave an overview of Ocean Census and how the project intends to combat this crisis through advancements in taxonomic techniques.

30/06/23

Why should we care about species discovery?

Listen to our team explain why species discovery is so critical to ocean conservation. Biodiversity is critical to our survival. Yet, even though ocean makes up more than 80% of habitat space on our planet, scientists believe little more than 10% of what lives in our seas has been found.

04/05/23

Live Broadcast launch event

Hear Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, address an invited audience from across the ocean community. And listen to scientists who will lead the alliance, which aims to change our understanding of what lives in our ocean. 

22/04/23

The technology underpinning success

Science Journalist David Shukman talks to the people behind Ocean Census. Find out more about the rapid technological evolutions that are game changers underpinning the programme's success. Plus a look at the history of species description or taxonomy, the vitally important process of recording new species, and how it has changed.

21/04/23

Science Director in conversation with David Shukman

Listen to our Science Director, Professor Alex Rogers in conversation with David Shukman. Amid the impact of the loss of oxygen in our ocean, and damage caused by global warming, Ocean Census is taking positive action to avoid species loss, setting out to discover and record species around the world. Filmed at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which will host the first Ocean Census Biodiversity Centre.

20/04/23
Join the census

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