What else is down there?

ONBOARD talks to the team at Ocean Census and Nekton about their global mission to accelerate the discovery and protection of ocean life

The Ocean Census, launched by Nekton foundation and The Nippon Foundation in 2023, is the largest programme in history dedicated to discovering ocean life.

Our oceans teem with life, yet the vast majority of marine species remain unknown to science. Current estimates suggest the ocean is home to between one and two million species, but only around 225,000 have been identified and documented. That leaves up to 90% of marine life waiting to be discovered – a vast world of biodiversity hidden beneath the waves.

The deep sea, the ocean’s least explored region, exemplifies the scale of this challenge. The ocean is profoundly deep, averaging approximately 3,600 metres worldwide. This means that the Titanic’s final resting place, at 3,800 metres, is not particularly remarkable. When considered as a three-dimensional space, the water column represents the largest habitable area on Earth. Yet, due to the logistical and technological constraints of open- ocean exploration, only a handful of vessels and submersibles worldwide can venture into these depths.

The potential for species discovery is enormous. However, the pace of identifying marine species has not significantly improved since the 19th century. Taxonomy, the science of classification, is underfunded and under-resourced. The average time from discovery to formal scientific description remains 13.5 years. For a planet facing a biodiversity crisis, this is far too slow.

Enter Ocean Census, the most ambitious marine species discovery initiative in history. Launched in 2023 by Nekton and The Nippon Foundation, this 10 year project aims to revolutionise the rate of marine species identification and build a global baseline of ocean life. Its mission is to provide the critical data needed to inform effective conservation and sustainable ocean policies within a decade.

As the global race for resources drives humanity deeper into the ocean, understanding its ecosystems has never been more urgent. Without comprehensive biodiversity baselines, crafting policies to protect marine environments is impossible.

As the Ocean Census succinctly puts it: How do we protect what we don’t know is there?

The Ocean Census combines cutting-edge science, innovative technology, and global collaboration to accelerate discovery. The alliance organises expeditions ranging from flagship missions co-produced with leading research institutes to citizen science programmes that invite public participation and the examination of existing sample collections. These expeditions venture to some of the most remote and underexplored corners of the planet, collecting data and specimens from regions rarely reached by humans.

A recent milestone expedition illustrates the initiative’s scope. Aboard the Norwegian polar research vessel Kronprins Haakon, 35 scientists and storytellers explored the underexplored Arctic waters of the Greenland Sea, reaching depths of 3,700 metres and examining the unique ecosystems of hydrothermal vents. Looking ahead, the Ocean Census has set its sights on the equally remote Southern Ocean.

The data gathered on expeditions like these not only expands our understanding of marine biodiversity but also informs critical decisions about ocean stewardship. The Ocean Census employs tools such as DNA sequencing, high-resolution digital imaging, and machine learning, designed to dramatically shorten the time required to identify and describe new species.

The Ocean Census draws inspiration from history’s most ambitious oceanographic endeavours, such as the Challenger Expedition of the late 19th century and the Census of Marine Life (2000–2010). However, it also recognises the unique challenges of the 21st century. The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten marine ecosystems as never before, heightening the urgency to uncover the secrets of the ocean.

Through partnerships with ocean nations, researchers, expedition leaders and storytellers, it is creating a global alliance united by a profound question: What else is down there?

GET INVOLVED visit www.oceancensus.org