Ocean Census

The largest global mission to discover ocean life 🔎🐙 Founded in 2023 by Nekton & The Nippon Foundation. Endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade.

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

On World Ocean Day we celebrate all the new discoveries made by scientists in the Ocean Census Science Network. More than 2000 since the programme began in 2023! 🪸 Meet the new species on Ocean Census NOVA, and support our species discovery mission. https://t.co/XUi4EK2Wxg

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

NEWS: Scientists discover
over 1,100 new marine species in landmark Ocean Census https://t.co/hmHVApHNl2

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

“If we do not know what species exist, how can we fully understand food webs, ecosystem resilience or the true impact of climate change on marine systems?”

Read the full article in @Forbes:
https://t.co/gG59NJzirm

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣

In a landmark third year for the Ocean Census, we announce the discovery of 1,121 new marine species in a single year - a 54% increase in annual species discovery.

Dive into the discovery: https://t.co/hmHVApHNl2

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

NEWS: Scientists from the Ocean Census and JAMSTEC have discovered 38 new species including deep sea polychaetes living in symbiosis with a marine sponge, ribbon worms and squat lobsters.

Read more: https://t.co/P3GmOWN08A

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

Ocean Census Science Network, check your inbox! ⏰ The latest Newsletter is out today.

Not in the Network? Join our community of marine scientists, taxonomists & early-career researchers and stay connected to global ocean discovery. https://t.co/yHfVLiRB8z

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

2/2 We are studying samples from @nektonmission expedition. Samples will be held in Comoros and South Africa, providing opportunities to lead to new species discoveries and descriptions. More information about the expedition here: https://t.co/vDNLgo88OW

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

This week, a Species Discovery Workshop has begun in South Africa, hosted at @NRF_SAIAB. The international team of scientists span expertise including polychaetes, corals, sponges and cephalopods. 1/2

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

During the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition, our science team were treated to some beautiful views, thanks to the cameras on @SchmidtOcean's remotely operated vehicle. Check out this footage from the expedition 👇

[Schmidt Ocean @SchmidtOcean]

Sea squirts & squid! ROV pilots filmed these salps and spectacular squid during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition with @oceancensus in early 2025. Salps, also known as sea squirts, are ubiquitous throughout the Ocean, and abundant in the Southern Ocean.

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

@nektonmission are currently looking for a new Head of Fundraising to join the team. Work across programmes including @oceancensus, First Descent, Yachts for Science and Ocean Rising.

Info and apply: https://t.co/vfeXacJWQA

[Nekton @nektonmission]

A reminder for our Head of Fundraising vacancy. Apply now: https://t.co/woVvvjaj5K

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

We're proud to once again be supporting the WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species of 2025. Have you discovered a new species between 1 Jan - 31 Dec 2025? Make sure you nominate your species via the link in the post below.

More info here: https://t.co/G39QGqiDml

[WoRMS @WRMarineSpecies]

Don't forget to nominate your favourites for the @WRMarineSpecies Top Ten Marine Species of 2025!

Deadline = January 25th 2026

More information: https://t.co/5ZuaEq4kgV

Nomination form: https://t.co/Xh7bPmtDqU

@oceancensus @UNOceanDecade @VLIZnews @LifeWatchERIC

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

"Deep sea worms are ugly/boring" 🗣️ We beg to differ!

Ocean Census Awardee and Solenogastres expert, Dr Franzisca Bergmeier, is using new methods to speed up species discovery of these deep-sea dwellers. https://t.co/JSkT6EBviG

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

A reminder ⏰ Nominations are currently open for the @WRMarineSpecies Top Ten Species of 2025. If you described a new species in 2025, nominate your species via the link below. You can also see the previous years' winners.

➡️ https://t.co/G39QGqi5wN

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

Carnivorous death ball sponge and iridescent scale worm among @CBCNews's top species of 2025! Great to see our #SouthSandwichIslands expedition with @SchmidtOcean continuing to inspire people to engage with the ocean. https://t.co/EnHobgtb8Z

[UN Ocean Decade @UNOceanDecade]

Over half the planet lies in the ocean's abyssal regions, a vast and mysterious world unlike anything on land.

Discover how, as part of the #OceanDecade, @seabed2030 @oceancensus @Ifremer_fr are exploring the deep sea—Earth's final frontier:https://t.co/4lpecJsYxW

#OceanScience

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

What happens when you discover a colossal squid?! 🦑🔍 Head of Science for the Ocean Census and senior lecturer at @Uni_of_Essex , Dr Michelle Taylor, chats to the BBC about that exciting moment on the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition.

[University of Essex @Uni_of_Essex]

Wow, what a year 2025 was for Dr Michelle Taylor at the @@EssexLifeSci !

She spoke to @BBCNews about her role in the groundbreaking @oceancensus and @SchmidtOcean expedition which captured the first footage of a baby colossal squid.

https://t.co/OW2okqnEtx

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

This striking Fungiacyathus coral was found at a depth of 546 metres, where it thrives in cold, twilight waters. A member of the stony coral order Scleractinia, its calcium carbonate cup displays delicate radial patterns reminiscent of winter ice crystals.

#FestiveFinds

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

🎉 Happy New Year from all of us at the Ocean Census! 🌊

As we welcome 2026, we want to celebrate the incredible community that makes our mission possible. Here’s to another year of exploration and discovery! 🌟

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

It was on a starry night… 🌠

Examined during Chile Workshop 1 (2024) at @UCNorte, this newly discovered sea star Plinthaster sp., was found at an impressive 984m depth on a seamount in the southeastern Pacific.

#FestiveFinds https://t.co/9QqtO15w78

[Ocean Census @oceancensus]

This newly discovered squat lobster (Gonionida sp. nov) was found on a seamount in the southeast Pacific, at 573 m depth. We think its red-and-white stripes give it a festive, candy-cane appearance. Do you agree or are we clutching at festive sugary straws?!

#FestiveFinds