Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth, yet there is so much we have yet to understand about these vast and biodiverse areas. Although we’ve recorded tens of thousands of marine animals over the past decades and scientists are constantly discovering new species, we’ve really only scratched the surface. According to the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean countUp to 90 percent of ocean life remains a mystery.
Ocean Census, a major collaborative program involving the Schmidt Ocean Institute and many others, is accelerating the pace at which marine life is found and documented. Between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 alone, the initiative’s researchers officially discovered 1,121 new species through 13 expeditions and nine “species discovery workshops” involving leading scientists from around the world.
“With many species at risk of disappearing before they are ever documented, we are in a race against time to understand and protect ocean life,” says Dr. Michelle Taylor, head of the Ocean Census Division. “Too many species remain in limbo for years because the process of formally describing them is too slow. We urgently need to change that… Each new species – whether a shark or a sponge – deepens our understanding of marine ecosystems and the benefits they bring to the planet.”
Discover hundreds more newly discovered species in the Ocean Census website.
