This collaboration unites the Ocean Census commitment to accelerate the discovery of ocean life with the Ocean Genome Legacy center’s two decades of expertise in marine genomics, with the goal of catalyzing our understanding and protection of marine biodiversity.
Initiated by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton in April 2023, Ocean Census has set an ambitious global target to discover 100,000 new species over the decade. Despite estimations that our ocean is home to 1–2 million species, only a fraction, about 10–25%, has been documented so far. Historically, the pace of species discovery has been steady, with approximately 1,500 new ocean species identified each year since the 1840s. Recent decades have seen a slight uptick, but the introduction of cutting-edge technologies in imaging, DNA sequencing, and artificial intelligence is poised to dramatically accelerate this rate.
OGL is set to play a pivotal role in the global program, contributing extensive experience in collecting, exploring, preserving and sharing the genomic diversity of the sea to enrich the process of species discovery and documentation. In addition, OGL’s global network of research collaborators will be engaged in Ocean Census, including participating in expeditions, knowledge sharing, and public engagement, strengthening this collaborative initiative.
“In protecting our planet, lack of knowledge is the greatest bottleneck—we cannot protect what we do not know and understand. By exploring the incredible diversity of life in the sea and the rich information hidden in its genomes, we learn the best ways to safeguard our planet’s delicate ecosystems. We are thrilled to join with Ocean Census in this extraordinary expedition of discovery and preservation,” said Prof. Dan Distel, Director of OGL.
This alliance between Ocean Census and OGL not only signifies a fusion of expertise, but a commitment to provide open-access to biological samples and data to scientists, policymakers, and the general public, fostering a collective consciousness of our ocean’s biodiversity. Each discovery promises to guide the sustainable management and protection of marine ecosystems.
Ocean Census builds upon significant historical marine exploration initiatives, such as The Challenger Expeditions and The Census of Marine Life.
“Our endeavor is not the first of its kind, but it is undoubtedly the most expansive and timely. Collaborating with OGL enables us to magnify our impact, ensuring that our discoveries contribute profoundly to both our understanding and stewardship of the ocean,” said Prof. Dr. Alex Rogers, Science Director at Ocean Census.
The Nippon Foundation of Japan, a private, non-profit foundation for social innovation, and marine research charity Nekton, a UK-based marine science and conservation institute, are coordinating partner activities along with funding and managing the Ocean Census Science Network, species discovery, expeditions, and public and policy engagement activities.
