Although we find ourselves in the 21st century, seemingly better equipped and informed than ever before, ecological knowledge, particularly of the marine realm, at times feels lacking. In Canada, a number ofrecent initiatives, such as the ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, thefederal-provincial Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk, the Species at Risk Act, and the SeaAround Us project attribute a special significance to marine biodiversity. The various initiatives atdocumenting the underwater world highlight the need for more information regarding lesser-knownspecies. Certainly the high cost of conducting marine surveys affects our ability to fully documentbiodiversity. Ship time is precious and the researcher may be faced with the daunting task of rapidlyidentifying many species, some of which are not often captured in standard fishing gear. And yet, muchinformation might be obtained to help us understand marine biodiversity and ecology if more specificidentifications could be reported from scientific and observer surveys.