Planetary and human health, food security and the economy rely on healthy oceans with a rich biodiversity – but beneath the blue, a crisis is unfolding and globally, governments are united in their efforts to protect and conserve the world’s oceans. Off the west coast of Australia, scientists working with the Minderoo Foundation’s OceanOmics division are using the latest advances in DNA sequencing and computational analysis to massively increase the speed and scale at which ocean biodiversity can be measured and monitored.
Traditionally, measuring change in our oceans has relied on local observations and catch data from fishing fleets. Now, a bucket of seawater could supply hundreds of samples at one time, providing data on myriad sea species.
Given that only 1 percent of marine vertebrates have had their genome sequenced to date, there’s vast scope to revolutionise the way ocean species are measured, understood and conserved.
