The Ocean Census project announced the discovery of 1,121 previously unknown marine species since April 2025. This significant increase in newly identified species includes various forms of marine life such as fish, rays, sponges, and soft corals, according to Oliver Steeds, director of the Ocean Census, which is a collaboration between the UK-based nonprofit Nekton and the Nippon Foundation of Japan.
Despite the discoveries, experts caution that proving a species is new requires extensive research and peer review. Greg Rouse, a marine taxonomist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, noted that many species reported by the Ocean Census have not yet undergone this formal identification process. The average time to formally describe a new species is about 13 years, which raises concerns about potential extinction before documentation.
The Ocean Census aims to explore remote ocean areas using advanced technology to uncover marine biodiversity, highlighting the vast unknowns that still exist in Earth's oceans. Karen Osborn, a taxonomist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, emphasized the importance of both discovery and formal description in understanding marine life. Steeds acknowledged that while some species may not be entirely new, the discoveries underscore the significant gaps in our knowledge of ocean biodiversity.