SCIENTISTS have identified more than 1,100 previously unknown marine species in just a year, but researchers say the discoveries highlight a deeper reality: humanity still knows remarkably little about the oceans covering most of the planet.
The findings, announced by the Ocean Census, renewed attention to a longstanding scientific paradox — researchers have mapped the surface of the Moon and Mars in greater detail than vast sections of Earth’s own seafloor.
Despite oceans covering more than 70 percent of the planet, experts estimate that as much as 90 percent of marine species may still be undocumented. The latest discoveries included a new deep-sea ghost shark in Australian waters, symbiotic worms living inside glass sponges near Japan, and previously unknown shrimps, corals and sea urchins found thousands of meters below the surface.
Scientists say the ocean remains difficult to study because of extreme pressure, darkness and cost. At depths approaching 7,000 meters, pressure becomes hundreds of times stronger than at sea level, requiring specialized robotic vehicles, reinforced submersibles and advanced imaging systems.
Unlike space exploration, where satellites can observe planetary surfaces remotely, large sections of the deep ocean cannot be seen directly from orbit because seawater blocks most electromagnetic signals.
Researchers instead rely on sonar mapping, remotely operated vehicles and deep-sea expeditions that can take years to organize and cost millions of dollars. The problem is especially acute in biologically rich regions such as the Indo-Pacific and the Coral Triangle, which includes Philippine waters.
Marine scientists say many deep-sea ecosystems near Southeast Asia remain largely unmapped, including trenches, seamounts and hydrothermal vent systems that may contain species found nowhere else on Earth.
The Ocean Census initiative was launched in 2023 by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton to accelerate species discovery and reduce the time needed to classify marine organisms. Traditionally, formally identifying a new species can take more than a decade because specimens undergo genetic analysis, peer review and taxonomic validation.
Researchers involved in the initiative warned that climate change, ocean warming, acidification and possible deep-sea mining activities could threaten marine organisms before scientists even document their existence.
Dr. Michelle Taylor, head of science at Ocean Census, said the world is “in a race against time” to understand marine biodiversity before ecosystems undergo irreversible damage.
The project has also revived debate over scientific priorities.
Ocean researchers note that governments spend billions of dollars on lunar and planetary exploration while deep-ocean science receives comparatively limited funding despite its importance to climate regulation, fisheries, medicine and food security.
The ocean absorbs roughly a quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions and plays a major role in regulating planetary temperatures. Many marine organisms are also being studied for compounds that may contribute to future treatments for cancer, infections and neurological diseases.
Scientists say understanding ocean ecosystems is becoming increasingly urgent as commercial interest grows in seabed mineral extraction for battery metals and advanced electronics. Environmental groups and marine biologists have warned that deep-sea mining could damage fragile ecosystems that remain poorly understood.
The latest discoveries were made through 13 expeditions involving international partners including the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Ocean Census said the deepest sampling reached 6,575 meters below sea level. Researchers say the discoveries are likely only a small glimpse of what remains hidden beneath the surface.
