The Census of Marine Life (CoML) is the first international program dedicated to studying the biology of the ocean. CoML is a growing global network of researchers in more than 80 nations engaged in a 10-year scientific initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution and abundance of life in the ocean. CoML uses field research, historical data and models of trends and projections to understand and forecast marine biodiversity.

In 2010, CoML will release the first comprehensive report on what is known, unknown and potentially unknowable about biodiversity in the ocean.  Ocean Leadership provides a home to the International Secretariat as well as the coordinating office of the U.S. Program.