Oxford, UK, 20 November 2023 – Ocean Census, a global initiative committed to accelerating the discovery and protection of ocean life, proudly announces its flagship expedition to discover ocean life in the less explored waters of Tenerife, Canary Islands. This region's unique geographical and oceanographic features foster an incredibly diverse marine ecosystem, ripe for scientific exploration and discovery.
The Macaronesia - Tenerife Submersible & Diver Expedition assembles a world-class coalition of expertise co-delivered in partnership with the Jesús Ortea Research Group, Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Tenerife (MUNA), Universidad de La Laguna (ECOMAR), and Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO). Macaronesia is a biogeographical region of eastern-central Atlantic, straddling the equator from the Azores to the Canary Islands at the heart.
Mariano H. Zapata, Councillor of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Canary Islands Government, said "The Canary Islands has exceptional marine wealth and great potential to be discovered. In the case of Tenerife, this expedition will be essential to know more clearly the depths of the Canary seas and the species they hide, data that will be very useful for the Canary Islands Government, in order to propose conservation strategies of our marine ecosystem. Thank you for the commitment of Ocean Census to work in the Canary Islands and contribute new research and scientific knowledge of world relevance to society."
The Pisces VI class submersible will be deployed in the Radazul area down to 300 metres, while the Finnish Scientific Dive Academy will navigate shallower waters around Tenerife’s volcanic coastline. This intense 23-day mission, running from November 27th to December 17th, 2023, will be augmented by a species discovery workshop featuring leading experts from the Ocean Census Science Network, including esteemed taxonomists from the Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), University of Barcelona and Museo del Mar de Ceuta.
“Our goal is to discover as many new species as possible and help create a new baseline of the rich diversity of life in the Canaries, Macaronesia” explained Alex Rogers, Expedition Science Co-Lead and Science Director at Ocean Census. “We will be deploying cutting-edge containerised laboratories that will allow us to create a digital twin of species enabling cyber-taxonomy to discover ocean life at speed and scale”
Although it’s estimated that between 1-2 million species inhabit our ocean, yet a staggering 75-90% remain undiscovered, making this mission crucial for marine biodiversity understanding. Bolstered by Ocean Census foundational partners The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, this collaborative endeavour is set to address the critical challenge of biodiversity loss head-on.
Documenting biodiversity and new species will create a baseline of ocean life to advance science, conservation and sustainable management of ocean life around Tenerife. Tenerife scientists working with international experts providing training and knowledge exchange will help to strengthen skills and capacity within the Canaries for long-term research and biomonitoring.
As world leaders convene for the COP28 climate summit, addressing the planet's most pressing environmental challenges, data collected from the mission will be vital in offering insights to COP policymakers as they make decisions to protect vast tracts of our ocean.
“We know that life originated in the sea and that it continues to host the greatest taxonomic diversity on planet Earth, but the complexity of exploration of this environment for humans have always been the cause of great ignorance,” said Leopoldo Moro, Expedition Science Co-Lead and taxonomist at the Jesús Ortea Research Group. “Thus, while the continuous development of humanity is demanding the expansion of extractive uses and occupied areas in the marine environment, we have barely made any progress in the inventory of its biota, something pressing in remote areas and deep zones. Initiatives such as the Ocean Census programme to promote knowledge that is essential to help nations implement sustainable policies with marine life.”
With an emphasis on immersive storytelling, Ocean Census will share the thrill of ocean discovery with the world, bridging the gap between scientific research and public advocacy through compelling visuals and narratives. This mission's story will be told by Tenerife's own scientists, augmented by Ocean Census' award-winning production team, and punctuated by daily social media updates, live educational broadcasts, and programming from the expedition with free resources for schools and students.
Media Opportunities: news and media organisations are invited to report on the mission through:
- joining the expedition on location,
- live video 2-ways with the team and/or
- utilising video, photographic and written content published throughout the mission and freely available for all media organisations.
About Ocean Census
Ocean Census is an open network of partners working together to accelerate the discovery and protection of ocean life.
Launched April 2023 by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, Ocean Census aims to develop and implement strategies and advanced technologies to accelerate ocean species discovery, to halt the ocean biodiversity crisis, and to meet societal needs for sustainable development.
The initiative tackles the pressing knowledge gap surrounding the diversity and distribution of marine life by deploying an innovative cyber-taxonomy approach, merging traditional taxonomy methods with cutting-edge technologies such as DNA sequencing, high-resolution digital imaging and machine learning.
Ocean Census builds on major programmes of the past, including The Challenger Expeditions (1872-1876, the birth of modern marine science) and The Census of Marine Life (2000-2010), with an ambitious target of discovering 100,000 new species in the coming decade.
To download this press release as a PDF, please click here.
Macaronesia: Ocean Census Lanza una Expedición Insignia para Descubrir la Biodiversidad Marina Oculta de Tenerife
Mientras los líderes de la comunidad global se reúnen para la Conferencia de las Partes (COP), los científicos del Proyecto Ocean Census de Nippon Foundation-Nekton y de las instituciones españolas liderarán simultáneamente una expedición crucial frente a la costa de Tenerife para catalogar urgentemente nuevas especies marinas en riesgo de extinción.
Oxford, Reino Unido, 20 de noviembre de 2023 – Ocean Census, una iniciativa global comprometida en acelerar el descubrimiento y protección de la vida oceánica, anuncia con orgullo su expedición insignia para descubrir la vida oceánica en las aguas menos exploradas de Tenerife, Islas Canarias. Las características geográficas y oceanográficas únicas de esta región fomentan un ecosistema marino increíblemente diverso, listo para la exploración y el descubrimiento científico.
La Expedición con Sumergible y Buceo en Tenerife - Macaronesia, reúne una coalición de clase mundial de expertos en colaboración con el Grupo de Investigación Jesús Ortea, el Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Tenerife (MUNA), el grupo de investigacion ECOMAR de la Universidad de La Laguna y Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO). Macaronesia es una región biogeográfica del Atlántico centro-oriental, que se extiende desde las Azores hasta las Islas Canarias en su corazón.
Mariano H. Zapata, consejero de Transición Ecológica y Energía del Gobierno de Canarias, afirmó que “Canarias cuenta con una riqueza marina excepcional y un gran potencial por descubrir”. Y explicó que, “en el caso de Tenerife, esta expedición será fundamental para conocer con mayor claridad las profundidades de los mares canarios y las especies que ocultan. Unos datos que serán de gran utilidad para el Gobierno de Canarias, de cara a plantear estrategias conservación de nuestros ecosistema marino”. Asimismo, agradeció la apuesta de Ocean Census "por trabajar en Canarias y aportar a la sociedad nuevas investigaciones y conocimientos científicos de relevancia mundial ”
El sumergible clase Pisces VI se desplegará en el área de Radazul hasta 300 metros de profundidad, mientras que la Academia Finlandesa de Buceo Científico navegará por aguas más someras alrededor de la costa volcánica de Tenerife. Esta intensa misión de 23 días, que se llevará a cabo del 27 de noviembre al 17 de diciembre de 2023, se verá aumentada por un taller de descubrimiento de especies con expertos líderes de la Red de Ciencia de Ocean Census, incluyendo taxónomos distinguidos del Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), la Universidad de Barcelona y Fundación Museo del Mar de Ceuta.
"Nuestro objetivo es descubrir tantas especies nuevas como sea posible y ayudar a crear una nueva referencia de la rica diversidad de la vida en las Canarias, Macaronesia", explicó Alex Rogers, Co-Líder Científico de la Expedición y Director Científico de Ocean Census. “Desplegaremos laboratorios contenerizados de última generación que nos permitirán crear una copia digital de las especies utilizando la ciber-taxonomía para descubrir la vida oceánica con velocidad y a escala."
Aunque se estima que entre 1 y 2 millones de especies habitan nuestro océano, un asombroso 75-90% permanece sin descubrir, lo que hace que esta misión sea crucial para la comprensión de la biodiversidad marina. Impulsado por los socios fundadores de Ocean Census, The Nippon Foundation y Nekton, este esfuerzo colaborativo está listo para enfrentar el desafío crítico de la pérdida de biodiversidad de frente.
Documentar la biodiversidad y las nuevas especies creará una referencia de la vida oceánica para avanzar en la ciencia, conservación y gestión sostenible de la vida oceánica alrededor de Tenerife. Los científicos de Tenerife que trabajan con expertos internacionales proporcionando formación e intercambio de conocimientos ayudarán a fortalecer las habilidades y capacidades dentro de Canarias para la investigación a largo plazo y la biomonitorización.
Mientras los líderes mundiales se reúnen para la cumbre climática COP28, abordando los desafíos ambientales más apremiantes del planeta, los datos recopilados de la misión serán vitales para ofrecer percepciones a los legisladores de la COP mientras toman decisiones para proteger vastas extensiones de nuestro océano.
“Sabemos que en el mar se originó la vida y que continúa albergando la mayor diversidad taxonómica del planeta Tierra, pero la complejidad de exploración de este medio para el ser humano ha sido siempre causa de su gran desconocimiento,” dijo Leopoldo Moro, Co-Líder Científico de la Expedición y taxónomo en el Grupo de Investigación Jesús Ortea. “Así, mientras el continuo desarrollo de la humanidad está exigiendo la expansión de los usos extractivos y áreas ocupadas en el medio marino, apenas hemos avanzado en el inventario de su biota, algo acuciante en las áreas remotas y en las zonas profundas. Iniciativas como el programa Ocean Census, son fundamentales para promover un conocimiento que es imprescindible para ayudar a las naciones a realizar políticas sostenibles con la vida marina.”
Con un énfasis en la narración inmersiva, Ocean Census compartirá la emoción del descubrimiento oceánico con el mundo, cerrando la brecha entre la investigación científica y la defensa pública a través de imágenes y narrativas convincentes. La historia de esta misión será contada por los propios científicos de Tenerife, aumentada por el galardonado equipo de producción de Ocean Census, y puntuada por actualizaciones diarias en redes sociales, transmisiones educativas en directo, y programación de la expedición con recursos gratuitos para escuelas y estudiantes.
Oportunidades para Medios: se invita a organizaciones de noticias y medios a informar sobre la misión a través de:
- unirse a la expedición en el lugar,
- videoconferencias en directo 2-vías con el equipo y/o
- utilizar contenido de vídeo, fotografía y contenido escrito publicado durante la misión y disponible gratuitamente para todas las organizaciones mediáticas.
Acerca del Ocean Census
Ocean Census es una red abierta de socios que trabajan juntos para acelerar el descubrimiento y la protección de la vida en los océanos.
Iniciado en abril de 2023 por la Fundación Nippon y Nekton, Ocean Census tiene como objetivo desarrollar e implementar estrategias y tecnologías avanzadas para acelerar el descubrimiento de especies oceánicas, detener la crisis de biodiversidad oceánica y satisfacer las necesidades sociales para el desarrollo sostenible.
La iniciativa aborda la urgente brecha de conocimiento que rodea a la diversidad y la distribución de la vida marina mediante la implementación de un enfoque innovador de ciber-taxonomía, combinando métodos de taxonomía tradicionales con tecnologías de vanguardia como la secuenciación de ADN, la imagen digital de alta resolución y el aprendizaje automático.
Ocean Census se basa en programas importantes del pasado, incluyendo las Expediciones Challenger (1872-1876, el nacimiento de la ciencia marina moderna) y el Censo de la Vida Marina (2000-2010), con una meta ambiciosa de descubrir 100,000 nuevas especies en la próxima década.
OCEAN CENSUS LAUNCH FAQS
To download the original FAQ document, please click here.
What is Ocean Census?
Ocean Census is the largest programme in history to discover life in our ocean. It will be launched on April 27th, 2023 and will herald a new era of pioneering research and scientific exploration to accelerate species discovery and protection. Recent technological advances in high resolution imaging, DNA sequencing, and machine learning mean scientists can now massively accelerate the process.
This will revolutionise our understanding of marine life which lies largely undiscovered beneath the waves. Today, scientists believe they have described little over 10% of the species that exist. It is believed there are 2.2 million species in our ocean, to date about 240,000 have been described.
Ocean Census has set the ambitious target of finding at least 100,000 new marine species in the first decade.
We currently describe only around 1,700 – 2,000 new ocean species a year. The time from discovery to registration of new organisms can vary greatly depending on the species, existing species knowledge, the research entity, research method, and level of identification. This currently takes as little as one to two years and as long as several decades. That rate of discovery has changed little since the 1800s.
Who is involved in Ocean Census?
Ocean Census is a global collaborative initiative, an open network of science, business, media and civil society organisations joining forces. It has been founded by The Nippon Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation for social innovation, and Nekton, a UK-based marine science and conservation institute.
What is the estimated cost of Ocean Census?
The cost of Ocean Census is dependent on how large the initiative grows. Whilst the Nippon Foundation is providing the project’s initial core funding, the alliance of partners involved are committing their own resources to the global effort.
Why is it taking place?
Ocean life is fundamental to all life on Earth. It produces the oxygen we breathe, isolates carbon dioxide, creates food for billions of people and is constantly providing vital scientific advances to fight disease.
We urgently need to protect this precious resource and the life within it, but we can’t protect what we do not know.
Ocean Census will help to significantly advance our understanding of fundamental science – oxygen production, carbon cycling, sustainable food production, the evolution of life on Earth and discoveries of new medicine and biotechnologies.
Ocean Census will help to identify how marine ecosystems are responding to climate change, assessing how marine life could support climate adaptation and alleviate the impacts of climate change for the benefit of all. A recent IPBES-IPCC Co-Sponsored Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Climate Change showed strong linkages between measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change and biodiversity.
How will Ocean Census work?
- Scientists from across the world will embark on expeditions to the ocean’s biodiversity hotspots to find new life from the surface to full ocean depth (10,925 metres).
- Specimens will be sent to Ocean Census Biodiversity Centres which harness technological advances across high resolution imaging, DNA sequencing and machine learning to speed up and scale up the process of discovery.
- As more partners get involved in high, middle-and low-income nations, more scientists and centres will participate.
- Networks of taxonomists will connect virtually to draw on the aggregated data set created which will provide a complete picture of species discovery and description.
- This aggregated, open-sourced data is added to a network of data centres globally and made freely accessible to scientists, marine policymakers and the public. We are working with these data centres to increase interoperability with a goal of having a single point of access - the Ocean Census Biodiversity System for scientists, decision makers, and the public.
Why should I care?
Ocean life makes all life on Earth possible and holds the wisdom of four billion years of evolution on Earth (life has existed in the ocean for three times longer than land). For context, 33 phyla are known in the Tree of Life, of which 32 are found in the ocean and 17 on land and in freshwater. Phyla are the major branches of ‘The Tree of Life’, how life is classified. Life in our ocean is responsible for much of the air we breathe, regulating our climate and Earth’s chemistry, and a vital food source for billions. To sustain and benefit life on Earth, we need to understand, protect and restore ocean life.
Who owns the data, is it ethical to take samples from the ocean, particularly in developing countries?
All data is open access for science, decision makers and the public for non-commercial use. All expeditions and research is co-produced hand-in-hand with host nation scientists and governments and the species, specimens, and related data discovered from territorial waters are owned by the host nation (under Nagoya Protocol and related laws). Under the UN Law of the Sea, species, specimens, and data from international waters are part of the collective commons, owned by the people of the planet and all data is open access for the common benefit of humankind.
Who will name the species?
Species from a nation’s territorial waters are given Latin names by the scientists doing the
species descriptions where at all possible, in consultation with host nation scientists. A smaller number of species will be given Common Names by the people of the host nation of each expedition in a process that will be managed and guided by the scientists from the host nation. Species from international waters are given Latin names by the scientists doing the species descriptions with a small number of species to be given Common Names by the public. These protocols will be established in the first phase of the programme.
Isn't it all too late and the ocean is doomed?
No, it's not too late. We have a short window of opportunity, perhaps the next ten years, when the decisions we all make will likely affect the next thousand or even ten thousand years. We hope the giant leaps in knowledge we can make with the discovery of ocean life can help put us on a better track towards a positive future for people and the planet.
What does success look like and how will it be measured?
Success for us is ultimately helping inform the protection and restoration of ocean life so it can continue to support life on Earth. This requires a lot of other global issues to line up towards this outcome which are outside of our control. However, in terms of our contribution it will be measured by:
- The number of species discovered – the goal is at least 100,000. Each one represents a vital piece of the code of life on earth - the more we discover, the more we understand how life exists and how to sustain and strengthen life in the ocean and therefore on Earth.
- The range of discoveries which will benefit all humankind – from oxygen production, carbon cycling, sustainable food production, the evolution of life on Earth and discoveries of new medicine and biotechnologies.
- The number of scientists involved, particularly taxonomists. Currently taxonomists are declining in number and are usually found in high-income nations. Success will be growing a network of scientists engaged in the discovery and conservation of ocean life – and notably, far more equitably distributed across the global ocean.
We have heard that many pharmaceuticals and cures have been found in the ocean. What do you expect to find?
Marine genetic resources are the genetic material present in all marine life and have been a source of many important pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and personal care products (e.g., currently 13 pharmaceutical drugs derived from marine organisms have been clinically approved, including treatments for cancer, neuropathic pain, COVID-19, HIV-AIDS and antivirals, with a further 24 marine-derived products in clinical trials and 250 in preclinical investigations).
Harnessing marine genetic resources will galvanise marine biotechnology industries including through the discovery of new drugs to treat disease and identifying bulk eco-chemicals and sustainable bioplastics. However, Ocean Census is not involved in bioprospecting nor any onward commercialisation.
Is the extraction of coral & other samples a harmful process?
Ocean Census will deploy high-precision sampling tools to collect corals and other large organisms. This means that a small number of individual samples will be collected and then preserved for further classification in museums or other laboratories. Sub-samples will be taken for DNA analysis. These organisms will be killed as part of this process but the number of samples will be minimised.
Smaller organisms that live in sand or mud will be collected as small samples of sediment, preserved and then later extracted. Again, bare minimum sampling will be undertaken.
Ocean Census may opportunistically collect specimens from fisheries surveys or other sources. These organisms would usually die as a result of collection but in this case they will be preserved for scientific description.
Are you using larger vessels to carry out the research, is this not bad for the environment?
Ocean Census will combine vessels from the philanthropic, government academic and commercial fleets. We are deploying a combination of advanced subsea technologies with divers, human submersibles, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). At present these vessels are generally powered by fuel oil and these do have a CO2 footprint. Our shore-based and nearshore expeditions will have a much lower carbon footprint. As the programme continues overtime, large hydrocarbon-powered vessels will likely be replaced by vessels powered by ammonium or hydrogen.
What if we fail?
The loss and destruction of ocean life is an existential crisis. Without ocean life, life on Earth will not continue as we know it. The more we can do right now, the more positive the impact we can have down the tracks.
How do I get involved?
We welcome all partners from government, science, expeditions, media, philanthropy, business and civil society to join the alliance and be part of Ocean Census. Please do contact us through the website. There are a multitude of different ways that different partners can get involved including:
- Governments: 1) Invite Ocean Census to work together to discover ocean life in your territorial waters, 2) Work with Ocean Census to develop or align research grants, research expeditions and scientists to advance research in ocean life.
- Science: 1) Collaborate on species discovery with the Ocean Census science team, 2) Take on a challenge to discover new species, 3) Contribute your new species to the global effort, 4) Register projects involved in discovery of ocean life, 5) Register taxonomic skills and expertise.
- Expeditions: 1) Register your expedition to become an Official Ocean Census Expedition, 2) Participate or partner with Ocean Census on our expeditions, 3) Invite Ocean Census taxonomists to join your expedition, 4) Collaborate with marine operations – from vessels to subsea technology deployment and development.
- Media / Engagement: 1) Engage with our media team for stories about ocean life 2) Get in touch with the Ocean Life Media Centre to share your stories of ocean life and request support to amplify across news and social media, 3) Develop partnerships across education, installations, broadcast etc.
- Philanthropy: 1) Co-develop programmes and funding to undertake Ocean Census activities across science, policy, expeditions, technology, engagement and/or capacity development, 2) Align existing initiatives with Ocean Census.
- Business: 1) Provide in-kind support to Ocean Census, 2) Co-develop and fund specific programmes including science, policy, expeditions, technology, engagement and/or capacity development, 3) Become an Ocean Census Sponsor with a bespoke range of partnership benefits.
- Civil Society: 1) Co-develop programmes that meet your and Ocean Census objectives, 2) Align existing initiatives with Ocean Census.
How do I follow the programme?
Latest news, films, content and events are updated on the website and please subscribe to Ocean Census News (our monthly digital newsletter) and follow Ocean Census across our social media channels:
Instagram: @oceancensus
Facebook: /oceancensus
LinkedIn: /oceancensus
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@oceancensus
20 November 2023
