Scientists discover over 1,100 new marine species in landmark Ocean Census
- Scientists have found 1,121 previously unknown species, fast-tracking discovery and marking a 54% jump in annual identification.
- Discoveries from depths of up to 6,575m include a new species of deep-sea ghost shark, a symbiotic bristle worm living within a ‘glass castle’, as well as corals, crabs, shrimps, sea urchins, and anemones.
- Led by The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, this global effort included 13 expeditions and 9 species discovery workshops with leading scientists across the world.
World’s largest mission to accelerate species discovery reveals extraordinary new life forms from some of Earth’s most extreme and unexplored environments.
Scientists have discovered 1,121 marine species in a single year, marking a significant step forward in efforts to document life in the world’s oceans. From the ‘Ghost Shark’ Chimaera, a distant relative of sharks and rays in the Coral Sea, to symbiotic worms on volcanic seamounts in Japan, the findings uncover a complex array of life beneath the ocean surface.
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, the world’s largest mission to accelerate ocean species discovery, marks a pivotal third year with 13 expeditions across some of the world’s most remote and least explored ocean regions, in partnership with JAMSTEC, CSIRO and the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
With up to 90% of ocean species still undiscovered, the findings highlight both the sheer scale of life yet to be documented and the importance of building scientific data that policymakers and marine managers need to protect the ocean.
Dr. Michelle Taylor, Head of Science at Ocean Census said: "With many species at risk of disappearing before they are even documented, we are in a race against time to understand and protect ocean life. For too long, thousands of species have remained in a scientific 'limbo' because the pace of discovery couldn't keep up. We are now breaking that bottleneck. By accelerating discovery and sharing data globally, we are not just finding new life, but generating the evidence needed to drive global science and policy at a critical moment."
Species spotlights:
The ‘Ghost Shark’ Chimaera (Chimaera sp. 1)
Location: Coral Sea Marine Park, Australia
Depth: 802–838 metres
Often called "ghost sharks," chimaeras are among the most mysterious inhabitants of the deep ocean. Distant relatives of sharks and rays, they diverged into a distinct evolutionary lineage nearly 400 million years ago - predating the dinosaurs. The species was discovered by taxonomist Dr William White during a CSIRO expedition to the Coral Sea Marine Park, off the Queensland coast. Today, a third of sharks, rays and chimaeras are vulnerable to extinction.
‘Life in a Glass Castle’ Symbiotic Worm (Dalhousiella yabukii)
Location: Shichiyo Seamount Chain, Japan
Depth: 791 metres
Discovered on a volcanic seamount during the 2025 Ocean Census JAMSTEC-Shinkai Japan expedition, this polychaete worm makes its home inside a ‘glass castle’: the intricate chambers of a glass sponge, a creature with a skeleton made of crystalline silica. Named after the mission's principal investigator, Dr Akinori Yabuki, this discovery was made by Dr Nato Jimi and published in The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Ribbon Worm (Drepanophoridae sp.1)
Location: Timor-Leste
Depth: 1-5 metres
The striking pigmentation of this ribbon worm may serve as a visual warning to predators; a signal of the potent chemical defences common to the phylum Nemertea. Beyond their ecological role as predators, these worms may have biomedical significance; some of their unique toxins have been investigated as potential treatments for Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia. Discovered by Dr Svetlana Maslakova, the worms are less than 3cm long and their vivid pigmentation serves as a warning to predators, signalling potent chemical defences.
Mediterranean Shrimp (Caridion sp. 1)
Location: Marseille, France
Depth: 15-35 metres
A striking new species of shrimp found in a sea cave off Marseille proves that major marine discoveries are still being made right on Europe’s Mediterranean coast. Defined by its vivid orange banding and intricate appendages, the specimen was identified by taxonomist Dr Hossein Ashrafi, building critical data for effective conservation in the pressured Mediterranean region.
Mitsuyuku Unno, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation said: "This year, Ocean Census has shown what is possible when scientific ambition is matched by global collaboration at scale. Through expeditions reaching polar depths to tropical seas, and the science to turn samples into discoveries, this team is revealing the extraordinary richness of ocean life.”
Powering Ocean Discovery: New Open Access Platform NOVA
Historically, the average time between a species' initial discovery and its formal ‘description’ in scientific literature is 13.5 years - meaning species are at risk of extinction before they are even catalogued. To address this, Ocean Census and collaborators are recognising ‘discovered’ as a formal scientific status that can be immediately recorded in NOVA, a new digital platform for marine species data.
Ocean Census NOVA makes collected data available within weeks, or even days, through a systematic, transparent and open access approach. Driving NOVA and Ocean Census is a science network of over 1,400 contributing taxonomists and scientists from 660 institutions in 85 countries.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap for Global Action
These 1,121 new marine species represent the outputs from a coordinated global alliance committed to transforming the speed at which we can discover marine life. High-quality data of this kind is the foundation for international action, providing the vital science required for the High Seas ‘Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction’ Treaty and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As the Ocean Census scales, its global network and open-access platform, NOVA, will help ensure that this critical data is available to inform global decision-making.
Ocean Census has spent three years building the systems, networks, and infrastructure required to discover ocean life at speed and scale. The method is proven - now it must be applied at the pace the challenge demands. Ocean Census co-founder, Nekton, is seeking $100M in catalytic capital to unlock $75M+ already pledged by partners, driving progress toward the ambition of discovering 100,000 new marine species.
Oliver Steeds, Director of Ocean Census said: "We spend billions searching for life on Mars or going to the dark side of the moon. Discovering the majority of life on our own planet - in our own ocean - costs a fraction of that. The question is not whether we can afford to do this. It is whether we can afford not to."
Next GeoSolutions awarded a new contract in the North Sea with Dutch TSO TenneT worth approximately €9 million
Next Geosolutions, one of the leading international players in marine geoscience and offshore construction support services for the energy sector and listed on Euronext Growth Milan market, announces the award of a contract by TenneT TSO B.V. with a total value of approximately €9 million.
The contract covers the execution of marine survey activities in the offshore wind area “Voordelta – Nederwiek 3”, part of TenneT’s Roadmap 2030, aimed to assess the technical feasibility of the cable corridor, identify any seabed obstacles and supporting the design and engineering phases of the infrastructure, thereby reducing operational risks during the installation of the export cables connecting the offshore wind area to onshore facilities.
Specifically, operational activities will include geophysical and geotechnical marine surveys along the cable route, based on the acquisition and processing of geophysical data for seabed mapping, complemented by deep geotechnical sampling and analyses down to 40 metres, aimed at characterize the subsoil, as well as the identification of any unexploded ordnance (UXO) and obstacles along the route.
Operations will take place within the offshore wind area “Voordelta – Nederwiek 3”, in nearshore and tidal areas, with completion of activities expected by Q3 2026.
Valentina De Rienzo, CCO of Next Geosolutions, commented: “This new contract further strengthens NextGeo’s positioning as a reference partner for marine survey activities supporting thedevelopment of offshore energy infrastructures. The collaboration with TenneT demonstrates the trust placed by a leading European operator in the Group’s technical expertise and integrated approach. NextGeo continues to stand out for its ability to deliver reliable and efficient solutions in complex environments, contributing to the development of the offshore energy transition.”
The award forms part of TenneT’s broader European offshore power grid development programme and contributes to one of the most advanced infrastructure plans at continental level, in a context characterised by a growing demand for renewable energy.
Saab hosts young people in STEM Challenge
Saab UK proudly hosted the South regional heat of Global Underwater Hub’s (GUH) STEM Challenge at its Fareham campus, welcoming school pupils for a hands‑on introduction to underwater engineering and marine technology.
Delivered by GUH in partnership with educational charity The Smallpeice Trust, the one‑day challenge saw 10 teams of students aged 13–14 design, build, code and operate model wheeled ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) to address the issue of plastic pollution in the marine environment. Using Lego Spike kits, the pupils demonstrated strong technical skills, creativity and teamwork before pitching their solutions to a panel of industry judges.
Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to meet Saab UK engineers and explore how science and engineering subjects are applied in real‑world underwater robotics, while gaining insight into future STEM career paths.
Saab UK congratulates St Oscar Romero Catholic School, who were named winners of the South regional heat after impressing judges with their Tadpole ROV. The team will now go on to represent the region at the national final in Aberdeen.
Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director at Saab UK, said:
“Watching the students take their ideas from the drawing board, turn them into working ROVs, and confidently explain how their designs could help protect the oceans was incredibly motivating. Doing this in the same environment where professional ROVs are engineered every day made the experience even more powerful, and you could really see their excitement and curiosity grow as the day progressed.”
Ricci Boston, Regional Director at Global Underwater Hub, said:
“The GUH is extremely proud of our long running STEM Challenge campaign, a truly inspiring, technology led competition that also carries a powerful environmental message for young people.”
Every year we are impressed by the creativity, knowledge and capability shown by students taking part. It’s also a fantastic way to showcase the underwater sector, a vital part of the UK economy, while giving young people visibility of STEM careers they might otherwise never have encountered, and helping connect them to the exciting opportunities the industry offers across the country. We are always grateful to our generous member sponsors who enable this campaign to exist!”
The event took place at Saab UK’s centre of excellence for underwater robotics, which officially opened in February 2025, supporting global offshore and subsea operations. Hosting the competition offered pupils rare insight into a working engineering environment and the people behind cutting‑edge underwater systems.
By hosting the GUH STEM Challenge South heat, Saab UK continues its commitment to supporting STEM education and inspiring the next generation of engineers.
Introducing ASL's EdgeAZFP
ASL Environmental Sciences is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Open Ocean Robotics, as part of the Air-Sea Ocean Monitoring System (ASOMS) project partially funded by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. As part of this joint effort, ASL’s Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) has been integrated into Open Ocean Robotics’ solar-powered surface vehicle, the DataXplorer, to unlock new possibilities in autonomous ocean monitoring.
The AZFP is a calibrated, scientific echosounder that is often deployed on moorings, providing a multifrequency time series lasting 12 months or longer. Combining ASL's AZFP with Open Ocean Robotics' innovative uncrewed DataXplorer platform demonstrates a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer approach to collecting oceanographic data in diverse and remote marine environments.
Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uaOjnuuIuw
Learn more about Canada's Ocean Supercluster: https://oceansupercluster.ca
Learn more about Open Ocean Robotics: https://www.openoceanrobotics.com
Learn more about ASL Environmental Sciences: https://www.aslenv.com
IMarEST Outstanding Contribution Award presented at London ceremony
The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) honoured Professor Jin Wang with its flagship Outstanding Contribution Award. The award was presented at the Institute’s prestigious Annual Dinner by new President, Professor Deborah Greaves.
Professor Wang, professor of marine technology and director of the Liverpool Logistics, Offshore and Marine (LOOM) Research Institute, received the 2026 IMarEST Outstanding Contribution Award for his dedication to marine education and training. The past three decades have seen him tackle all aspects of the field, from continuing professional development (CPD) to postdoctoral research.
As both a researcher and educator, Professor Wang has also been a pioneer in research-led teaching as well as developing innovative degree programmes and curricula. He has also launched outreach initiatives that inspire young people to pursue careers in marine engineering and technology.
This is the second time Professor Wang has been presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award. The first was in 2017, for his contribution to marine safety.
Professor Wang said: “I am truly honoured to receive this recognition from the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. This award reflects the collective efforts of colleagues, students, and partners worldwide. As our sector advances toward safer, smarter, and more sustainable maritime systems, it remains vital to foster collaboration, innovation, and the next generation of talent.”
Chris Goldsworthy, CEO of the IMarEST, said: “Professor Wang is a true inspiration to our sector and a role model for those entering the profession. I hope his achievement will encourage more people to put themselves forward for our awards programme, which exists to recognise and nurture talent across the sector.”
In addition to the Outstanding Contribution Award, three other honours from IMarEST’s suite of professional accolades were presented during the evening: two Denny Medals and the Royal Navy Operational Engineering Award.
To honour academic excellence, the Denny Medals were awarded to the lead authors of the best papers published in the IMarEST’s journals: the Journal of Marine Engineering and Technology (JMET) and the Journal of Operational Oceanography (JOO).
This year’s winners were Nan Lin for his paper "Towards reliable control takeover in ship remote-control system: a cyber-physical fusion testing approach", and Jonathan Turton, for his paper “The Met Office moored buoy network - sentinels for severe weather and extreme events". Both papers were published in 2024.
The final award of the evening went to LET Meghan Cuthbert, who received the Royal Navy Operational Engineering Award, in recognition of her exceptional engineering skills and outstanding performance. LET Cuthbert’s innovative contributions and significant achievements in enhancing operational efficiency have shown her to be a valuable asset to HMS LANCASTER's Weapon Engineering Department.
Fugro GeoAI Framework wins OTC Spotlight on New Technology Award for faster insights into complex site conditions
Fugro has received a Spotlight on New Technology Award from the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) for its Fugro GeoAI Framework, an expert‑led approach that uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the interpretation of offshore survey data during the early stages of energy projects. By helping teams transform large volumes of survey data into engineering‑ready information sooner, the framework supports earlier and more confident front‑end decisions, where risk exposure, capital commitments and delivery outcomes are often shaped.
Today’s offshore developments are being planned under increasing schedule pressure and heightened capital discipline. As survey areas become more complex and data‑rich, interpretation has emerged as a bottleneck, often lagging the pace of early project planning. Fugro GeoAI accelerates survey interpretation during this critical stage, enabling teams to assess risk and compare options earlier, while maintaining engineering rigour and expert oversight.
The framework combines AI‑assisted digital modelling with structured, expert‑led interpretation. AI is used to improve speed and consistency, while Fugro specialists remain responsible for interpretation, validation and quality assurance. This approach ensures outputs are transparent, defensible and suitable for engineering design and regulatory use in safety‑critical offshore environments.
“Many of the biggest cost and risk exposures in offshore projects are set long before construction begins,” said Shalu Shajahan, Director of Marine Site Characterisation for Fugro in the Americas. “Fugro GeoAI helps teams gain earlier clarity on seabed conditions and constraints as key decisions are being made, supporting more effective planning and reducing the likelihood of change later in delivery.”
OTC also recognises emerging leadership at Fugro.
Alongside the Spotlight on New Technology Award, OTC has also selected Fugro’s Yasmin Sodré, Commercial Project Manager – Uncrewed Solutions, for its 2026 Emerging Leaders Programme. Sodré was part of the Fugro team that delivered the region’s first fully remote subsea inspection programme for Petrobras in Brazil last year. The solution was previously recognised with an OTC Spotlight on New Technology Award for its contribution to safer and more efficient offshore asset integrity surveys.
The awards will be presented during OTC 2026, taking place 4–7 May in Houston, Texas, where Fugro will contribute to the technical programme and exhibit floor, sharing experience from offshore developments through to the operation of existing assets.
More information is available here: http://www.fugro.com/news/events/otc-2026.
ZeroUSV and Manor Marine partner to boost production of advanced British-built USVs
ZeroUSV, the expert designer and manufacturer of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), has made a strategic investment in multidisciplinary shipyard, Manor Marine, to accelerate the production of its high-tech, UK-designed and built, Oceanus class autonomous vessels.
The new partnership sees ZeroUSV become a shareholder in Manor Marine, providing ZeroUSV with guaranteed production capacity to significantly scale, and deliver at pace, its Oceanus class USVs, from Manor Marine’s base in Portland, Dorset.
Additional manufacturing space may be added from Autumn 2027 to support the growing new build pipeline.
This further enhances ZeroUSV’s end-to-end domestic production capabilities, while securing long-term business for Manor Marine, advancing its objective to support state-of-the-art, UK shipbuilding projects while bringing economic benefits to the South West region.
Low carbon autonomous craft have been identified by the National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) as a core area of growth within the UK maritime market. Strengthening the supply chain for USVs aligns with the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy, and unlocks significant opportunities to export this homegrown innovation overseas.
Rod Paterson, CEO of the National Shipbuilding Office, said: “Having visited both Zero USV and Manor Marine, and many other brilliant British SMEs, I am hugely impressed by their innovation, agility and craftmanship.
“The development enhances our sovereign capability, drives local economic growth and skills, offers future export potential and is being developed at pace. This is all critical to our Defence Industrial Strategy, our future Hybrid Navy ambitions and the NSO Shipbuilding and Maritime Technology Action Plan.”
ZeroUSV’s fully robotic, autonomous low carbon Oceanus class USVs embody these objectives.
Designed for ‘over-the-horizon’ missions, they benefit from large payload capacity, industry-leading hardware and customisable design, serving as a versatile platform for a wide range of critical maritime operations, including defence.
Over the last two years, Manor Marine has been a trusted construction partner for ZeroUSV, delivering the construction and outfitting of all four Oceanus12 vessels now in operational service.
Construction of the first Oceanus17 class – a new larger 17-metre platform development with the proven engineering of the Oceanus12 - is currently underway, and set for delivery in early July this year.
Manor Marine’s strategic location at the gated, ISPS-compliant, Portland Port will ensure robust security, aligned with the requirements of building vessels for defence applications.
Closer integration with Manor Marine will support ZeroUSV’s objective to continually accelerate the design, engineering and build phases for the Oceanus fleet – creating increased agility in the delivery of these versatile autonomous craft.
Matthew Ratsey, Co-founder and Managing Director of ZeroUSV, said: “From the outset Manor Marine have proven to be a key partner in delivering the world-class Oceanus12 USV which the 17 is now building on. The investment we are making today is a recognition of that, and a serious statement of intent which will guarantee production capacity, and allow ZeroUSV to continue to scale at an aggressive pace which the market demands. This will be a direct boost to the UK’s sovereign shipbuilding capability and local economic opportunities in the South West.”
Tom O’Neill, Operations Director, Manor Marine, said: “Autonomous vessels represent a new frontier for critical maritime operations supporting defence and energy security objectives, and it’s important that the UK capitalises on its growing reputation in this space. We’re proud that ZeroUSV has made the transition from client to strategic investor; this says a great deal about the trust that our teams have cultivated in the delivery of the fleet to date and sets us up perfectly for deeper collaboration in future.”
Next Geosolutions awarded a contract worth approximately €10 million for geophysical survey and UXO activities in the central Mediterranean area
Next Geosolutions, one of the leading international players in marine geoscience and offshore construction support services for the energy sector and listed on Euronext Growth Milan market, announces that it has been awarded a new contract by a leading international client operating in the subsea power cable sector, as part of a project relating to a subsea energy infrastructure located in the Central Mediterranean.
The operational phase will involve the deployment of several vessels engaged in both offshore and nearshore activities, carrying out multiple geophysical survey and pUXO Identification and Clearance (ID&C) survey operations on a number of identified targets. These activities will enable the precise identification of the nature of the detected anomalies and, where necessary, the execution of the appropriate clearance operations to ensure full safety during the subsequent infrastructure installation phases.
The total value of the contract, which will be developed in two separate phases, amounts to approximately €10 million. Completion of the operational activities is expected in the third quarter of 2026 and will continue to involve various specialised vessels for both offshore and nearshore operations.
Giovanni Ranieri, CEO of NextGeo, stated: “This award confirms NextGeo’s technical and operational expertise in managing complex survey campaigns, both in nearshore and offshore environments, and further strengthens our positioning in seabed and UXO survey services supporting strategic energy infrastructure projects across the EMEA region”.
OEG secures multi-million-dollar CCU contract extension with a global operator to support Bass Strait operations
OEG has secured a long-term multi-million-dollar contract extension with a global operator to support its offshore drilling operations in the Bass Strait field, Australia, until the end of field life, expected to be in 2036.
Reinforcing a long-standing partnership between the two organisations, the agreement, will see OEG supply and manufacture 200 specialist DNV (2.7-1) certified offshore Cargo Carrying Units (CCUs), from its Barry Beach facility in Victoria, Australia. Six OEG personnel will provide full-service inspection, maintenance and repair of the units when required, as well as crane and lifting services.
With the addition of this new contract, the total number of OEG CCUs and serviced units supporting the operator’s offshore operations in the region will increase to approximately 700.
Beau Robins, Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand at OEG, said: “This contract extension reflects a longstanding relationship built over many years. It also highlights the value of long-term rental agreements in supporting operational planning and equipment availability, reducing unplanned maintenance and helping operators improve efficiency while preserving capital through to end of field life.
“OEG’s CCUs are widely recognised for their innovative design and benchmark-setting performance. We look forward to continuing to support operations across Australia with reliable, certified equipment and consistent service.”
The Bass Strait offshore field, Australia, has been a cornerstone of the country’s oil and gas industry since production began in the late 1960s. It was the first major offshore development in Australia and has supplied a significant proportion of the nation’s oil and gas demand, particularly to Victoria. It has played a key role in supporting domestic energy security while demonstrating long-term production from a mature offshore basin.
Headquartered regionally in Perth, OEG operates from six locations across Australia and New Zealand, providing integrated solutions to the energy sector.
Kraken Robotics signs Memorandum of Understanding with SEFINE SISAM
Kraken Robotics Inc. announces it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SEFINE SISAM (Strategic Unmanned Systems Research Center) during the SAHA exposition in Türkiye.
As part of the agreement, Kraken will work with SISAM to integrate KATFISH into its mission planning software and develop automatic target recognition (ATR) capabilities for Kraken Synthetic Aperture Sonar.
“We’re pleased to continue our work with SEFINE following a successful at-sea demonstration earlier this year,” said Bernard Mills, Executive Vice President of Defence at Kraken Robotics. “This partnership poises us to rapidly develop and deliver relevant capability in a region that combines industrial excellence and operational need. Together, we are advancing fully integrated, autonomous solutions for seabed warfare and mine countermeasures—enhancing the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of maritime security operations.”
Kraken and SEFINE recently demonstrated Kraken’s KATFISH and unmanned surface vessel (USV) launch and recovery system from SEFINE’s RD-22 USV off the coast of İstanbul, Türkiye, validating rapid, high-resolution detection and classification of mine-like objects and critical underwater infrastructure in an operational environment.