By Kira Coley

Ocean Census, a visionary project led by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, heralds a transformative era of marine exploration. The initiative blends the latest technological innovation with time-honored scientific methods, introducing a pioneering concept known as cyber-taxonomy. Launched against the backdrop of the UN Ocean Decade and the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, Ocean Census is being bolstered by increasing global support and is poised to deliver profound insights into the marine world.

Our planet’s life forms a complex web within a grand, interdependent system, harmonizing living organisms with non-living elements, such as the atmosphere, ocean and land. Human existence is not merely a part of this dynamic biosphere but depends on it for critical resources, such as food, clothing and medicine. Yet, we are witnessing an alarming decline in biodiversity.

The 2022 Living Planet Index report reveals an average decline of 69 percent in monitored wildlife populations since 1970, a stark indicator of the accelerating crises of biodiversity loss and climate change driven by unsustainable human activity.

This decline highlights a striking gap in our knowledge: We have a better grasp of the galaxy’s stars than the number of species on our own planet, estimated to be somewhere from a few million up to 100 million. Scientists suggest that the current species extinction rate is 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural rate, indicating that between 0.01 and 0.1 percent of all species could be lost annually. If Earth indeed hosts 100 million species, we face the staggering possibility of losing 10,000 to 100,000 species every year, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced conservation and understanding of these species.

The ocean poses a particularly daunting challenge. It is estimated that 1 million to 2 million species inhabit our seas, yet up to 90 percent remain undescribed, a glaring deficiency that exacerbates the biodiversity crisis. The process of describing new species, which can span from a few years to several decades, calls for a more expedited approach to marine discovery.

A New Horizon in Marine Discovery

Launched in April 2023, Ocean Census embarks on a mission to uncover the hidden biodiversity within our world’s ocean. This groundbreaking initiative aims to identify 100,000 new species over the next decade, making it the most comprehensive marine life survey to date. Building upon the historical achievements of the Challenger Expedition (1872 to 1876) and the Census of Marine Life (2000 to 2010), Ocean Census’s strategy includes global expeditions to collect specimens and gain new insights into marine ecosystems.

Central to this initiative is the cyber-taxonomy approach, which merges traditional taxonomy with contemporary techniques, such as DNA sequencing, digital imaging and machine learning. This method creates a “digital life form” for each specimen, facilitating and accelerating the classification and description of species by an expanding network of global taxonomists.

“Revolutions in technologies such as digital imaging, sequencing and machine learning now make it possible to discover ocean life at speed and at scale,” said Professor Alex Rogers, Ocean Census science director. “It currently takes one to two years to several decades to describe a new species after it is collected by scientists, but by utilizing new technologies and sharing the knowledge gained using cloud-based approaches, it now can take only a few months.”

By meticulously documenting biodiversity and identifying new species, the program, along with its partners, will establish a comprehensive baseline of ocean life, essential for advancing scientific understanding and stewardship of our marine resources. Cyber-taxonomy, with its creation of digital life forms, encapsulates marine life with unprecedented precision, propelling the speed of marine discovery into a new realm of possibilities.

Early achievements of the program include pioneering expeditions to the Barents Sea, Johnston Atoll and Tenerife. These expeditions mark the beginning of a much larger journey of discovery.

A Global Inclusive Network

The Ocean Census initiative is crafting a worldwide alliance uniting science, technology, and expedition partners with governments, philanthropy, and civil society from high-, middle-, and low-income nations, fostering a seamless exchange of knowledge and ensuring the equitable distribution of data, significantly enriching the global comprehension of biodiversity.

By digitizing data from specimen collections and constructing a sophisticated cyber-biodiversity system for data distribution, Ocean Census democratizes access to crucial biodiversity knowledge. This progressive step not only accelerates the discovery of species but also invigorates global conservation initiatives, setting a new standard for collaborative scientific efforts.

The program is committed to collaborating with scientists around the world, emphasizing the transfer of knowledge and skill enhancement, particularly in regions with limited resources. This dedication ensures that local communities are equipped with the necessary tools for long-term research and biomonitoring.

The initiative’s contributions are bolstering a global knowledge base, aiming to promote a culture of inclusivity, making open-source information accessible to all stakeholders. With this commitment, Ocean Census and its partners are reshaping the field of taxonomy, integrating digital imaging, sequencing and AI to significantly quicken the pace of species identification, a vital endeavor to confront climate change and biodiversity loss.

“The beauty and diversity of marine life in the ocean is still beyond human comprehension, but as we explore and uncover what lies beneath the sea surface, we are constantly awed and delighted by new life forms,” said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, executive director of Schmidt Ocean Institute, one of the leading partners of Ocean Census. “Schmidt Ocean Institute is proud to be partnering with Ocean Census to accelerate our understanding of the incredible creatures that inhabit our marine world.”

Your Role in Shaping the Future

Recognizing that our current actions will define the trajectory of marine conservation, Ocean Census extends an invitation to organizations and individual scientists to become integral parts of this mission by joining as a partner, co-developing and co-deploying technologies, contributing to the Science Network, sharing in new species discoveries, and participating in expeditions and taxonomic workshops. Your involvement can help safeguard the ocean’s diversity, crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting human health and prosperity. By understanding the full breadth of marine life, we can harness its benefits, mitigate human impact, and nurture resilient marine habitats for generations to come.

Learn more here.

Kira Coley is the head of communications for Ocean Census. For over a decade, she’s been telling stories about humankind’s relationship with the ocean, covering everything from underwater innovation to deep-sea exploration. She serves as a communications adviser and a member of the UN Ocean Decade Strategic Communications Group.

*This article is the extended version of the Soapbox that appears in the January 2024 issue.