The Census of Marine Life began in 2000, and is a 10-year study involving about 2,000 researchers in 81 countries.
According to the Census web site, "the stated purpose of the Census of Marine Life is to assess and explain the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life."
The goal of the Census is to answer three questions:- What lived in the ocean
- What lives in the ocean?
- What will live in the ocean?
The Census is especially relevant now with the sea facing many conservation issues, from overfishing to climate change. It is important to learn as much as we can about what inhabits the ocean now to establish a baseline from which future changes can be measured.
There are 18 projects associated with the Census, ranging from the study of individual habitats, such as seamounts, to using innovative technologies to tag pelagic species like bluefin tuna. As the projects occur, scientists have announced their results, and they are also available on the census web site. But in October 2010, the official scientific report of the Census will be released, resulting in a "complete catalog of marine life" and a wealth of information that will help resource managers make decisions about the ocean.
