Ocean Census, involving over 800 scientists from more than 400 institutions, has embarked on expeditions aimed at discovering new marine species. Recently, they announced the identification of 866 new species, including a unique guitar shark and a pygmy pipehorse found off the African coast. While this is significant, the lengthy identification process and high risk of extinction pose challenges. Launched in 2023, Ocean Census aims to address these gaps in knowledge as over 70% of Earth's oceans remain unexplored, with only a fraction of marine species documented thus far.
Ocean Census has announced the discovery of 866 new marine species, showcasing biodiversity and the importance of accelerated species documentation in our oceans.
"The identification of a new species can take up to 13-and-a-half years, meaning some species may go extinct before they are even documented," Ocean Census highlights.
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth but only 240,000 out of the estimated one to two million marine species are known to science.
The Ocean Census strives to close critical knowledge gaps about marine biodiversity before it's too late, highlighting the urgency in marine exploration.
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