The international program Ocean Census announced the discovery of 1,121 new marine species between April 2025 and March 2026, representing a 54% increase compared to the previous year. This achievement is part of its mission to identify most of the still unknown ocean life in the planet’s seas.
The mega-expedition included 13 scientific campaigns in under-studied regions, with the participation of more than 1,400 taxonomists from 660 institutions in 85 countries. Since its founding in 2023, Ocean Census has already documented over 2,000 new species.
NOVA Platform: Accelerating Science
Historically, formally describing a species took about 13.5 years. With the NOVA platform, developed by Ocean Census, this process can be completed in weeks or days.
The network has 1,500 active scientists and 650 collaborating marine institutes, allowing faster progress in documentation and conservation.
Examples of New Species
Among the most striking findings are:
- A ghost shark (Chimaera) in the Coral Sea (Australia), described by William White from CSIRO.
- The symbiont worm Dalhousiella yabukii, found at 791 meters in Japan by JAMSTEC.
- A ribbon worm from the Drepanophoridae family in Timor-Leste, just 5 meters deep.
- A shrimp from the genus Caridion in Marseille, France, at 15-35 meters.
- The deepest expedition of the year reached 6,575 meters.
Biodiversity at Risk
90% of ocean species have yet to be formally described. Michelle Taylor, the program’s scientific director, warned: “We are in a race against time to understand and protect ocean life”. Many species could disappear before being documented.
The long-term goal is to describe 100,000 new marine species, compared to the little more than 240,000 currently known.
Importance of Marine Exploration
Oceans are vital for human survival and planetary balance:
- Climate regulation: they absorb heat and carbon, mitigating climate change.
- Biodiversity and medicine: marine organisms allow the development of biopharmaceutical products.
- Food and resources: they ensure the sustainability of fisheries and provide minerals for the energy transition.
- Technological innovation: exploration drives advances in robotics and artificial intelligence.
- Geopolitics and sovereignty: mapping maritime boundaries and protection against illegal exploitation.
Argentina and Ocean Exploration
Argentina’s deep waters, such as the Continental Slope and the Mar del Plata Canyon, are frequent focuses of scientific expeditions. These areas represent opportunities to discover new species and strengthen the country’s scientific sovereignty within the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
The discovery of 1,121 new species by Ocean Census reaffirms the magnitude of the scientific and environmental challenge facing humanity.
Documenting marine life not only expands knowledge but also strengthens conservation and technological innovation in a context of global climate crisis.
