Published September 27, 2023
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Accelerating ocean species discovery and laying the foundations for the future of marine biodiversity research and monitoring

Creators

  • 1. Nekton
  • 2. Northeastern University
  • 3. Commonwealth Secretariat
  • 4. National Oceanography Centre
  • 5. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
  • 6. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
  • 7. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata
  • 8. Goethe University Frankfurt
  • 9. Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M
  • 10. GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
  • 11. Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ
  • 12. Ghent University
  • 13. Natural History Museum
  • 14. University of the West Indies
  • 15. University of São Paulo
  • 16. University of Wollongong
  • 17. University of Guelph
  • 18. IPB University
  • 19. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • 20. Museums Victoria
  • 21. World Conservation Monitoring Centre
  • 22. Bielefeld University
  • 23. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
  • 24. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
  • 25. National Museum of Natural History
  • 26. Island Conservation Society
  • 27. South African National Biodiversity Institute
  • 28. Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
  • 29. Australian Institute of Marine Science
  • 30. University of Western Australia
  • 31. University of Exeter
  • 32. University of Oxford
  • 33. Environmental Systems Research Institute (United States)
  • 34. Ifremer

Description

Ocean Census is a new Large-Scale Strategic Science Mission aimed at accelerating the discovery and description of marine species. This mission addresses the knowledge gap of the diversity and distribution of marine life whereby of an estimated 1 million to 2 million species of marine life between 75% to 90% remain undescribed to date. Without improved knowledge of marine biodiversity, tackling the decline and eventual extinction of many marine species will not be possible. The marine biota has evolved over 4 billion years and includes many branches of the tree of life that do not exist on land or in freshwater. Understanding what is in the ocean and where it lives is fundamental science, which is required to understand how the ocean works, the direct and indirect benefits it provides to society and how human impacts can be reduced and managed to ensure marine ecosystems remain healthy. We describe a strategy to accelerate the rate of ocean species discovery by: 1) employing consistent standards for digitisation of species data to broaden access to biodiversity knowledge and enabling cybertaxonomy; 2) establishing new working practices and adopting advanced technologies to accelerate taxonomy; 3) building the capacity of stakeholders to undertake taxonomic and biodiversity research and capacity development, especially targeted at low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) so they can better assess and manage life in their waters and contribute to global biodiversity knowledge; and 4) increasing observational coverage on dedicated expeditions. Ocean Census, is conceived as a global open network of scientists anchored by Biodiversity Centres in developed countries and LMICs. Through a collaborative approach, including co-production of science with LMICs, and by working with funding partners, Ocean Census will focus and grow current efforts to discover ocean life globally, and permanently transform our ability to document, describe and safeguard marine species.
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