Scientists Report Major Steps Towards 1st Census of Marine Life

The 2,000-strong community of Census of Marine Life scientists from 82 nations today announced astonishing examples of recent new finds from the world’s ocean depths.

In the fourth highlights report issued since the global collaboration began in the year 2000, Census scientists say their work is:

• Compiling an unprecedented number of “firsts” for ocean biodiversity;
• Advancing technology for discovery;
• Organizing knowledge about marine life and making it accessible;
• Measuring effects of human activities on ocean life;
• Providing the foundation for scientifically-based policies;

According to Ian Poiner, chair of the Census’s International Scientific Steering Committee and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Marine Science:

“The release of the first Census in 2010 will be a milestone in science. After 10 years of new global research and information assembly by thousands of experts the world over, it will synthesize what humankind knows about the oceans, what we don’t know, and what we may never know – a scientific achievement of historic proportions.”