diff --git a/db/types.py b/db/types.py
index df76c5f1..794397a6 100644
--- a/db/types.py
+++ b/db/types.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class PlatformEnum(str, Enum):
     GALAXY = "galaxy"
     BPA_DATA_PORTAL = "bpa_data_portal"
     SBP = "sbp"
+    EDNA_EXPLORER = "edna_explorer"
 
 
 class PlatformMembershipData(BaseModel):
diff --git a/migrations/versions/39caad32922e_edna_explorer.py b/migrations/versions/39caad32922e_edna_explorer.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c736155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/versions/39caad32922e_edna_explorer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+"""edna-explorer
+
+Revision ID: 39caad32922e
+Revises: 4000ecb2796d
+Create Date: 2026-07-17 10:24:19.065484
+
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+import sqlmodel
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = '39caad32922e'
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = '4000ecb2796d'
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    pass
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    pass
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/routers/admin.py b/routers/admin.py
index aae0bef6..ce6bd689 100644
--- a/routers/admin.py
+++ b/routers/admin.py
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
     "galaxy": {"enum": PlatformEnum.GALAXY, "name": "Galaxy Australia"},
     "bpa_data_portal": {"enum": PlatformEnum.BPA_DATA_PORTAL, "name": "Bioplatforms Australia Data Portal"},
     "sbp": {"enum": PlatformEnum.SBP, "name": "Structural Biology Platform"},
+    "edna_explorer": {"enum": PlatformEnum.EDNA_EXPLORER, "name": "eDNA Explorer"},
 }
 
 GROUP_MAPPING: dict[BundleType, dict] = {
diff --git a/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py b/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py
index 041f0dac..7b001ca2 100644
--- a/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py
+++ b/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ def test_get_filter_options(test_client, as_admin_user, test_db_session, persist
 
     options = resp.json()
     assert isinstance(options, list)
-    assert len(options) == 5
+    assert len(options) == 6
 
     for option in options:
         assert "id" in option
@@ -512,13 +512,14 @@ def test_get_filter_options(test_client, as_admin_user, test_db_session, persist
         assert isinstance(option["name"], str)
 
     option_ids = {opt["id"] for opt in options}
-    expected_ids = {"galaxy", "bpa_data_portal", "sbp", "tsi", "sbp_workflow_execution"}
+    expected_ids = {"galaxy", "bpa_data_portal", "sbp", "edna_explorer", "tsi", "sbp_workflow_execution"}
     assert option_ids == expected_ids
 
     option_dict = {opt["id"]: opt["name"] for opt in options}
     assert option_dict["galaxy"] == "Galaxy Australia"
     assert option_dict["bpa_data_portal"] == "Bioplatforms Australia Data Portal"
     assert option_dict["sbp"] == "Structural Biology Platform"
+    assert option_dict["edna_explorer"] == "eDNA Explorer"
     assert option_dict["sbp_workflow_execution"] == "Structural Biology Platform Bundle"
     assert option_dict["tsi"] == "Threatened Species Initiative"
 
diff --git a/tests/test_biocommons_admin.py b/tests/test_biocommons_admin.py
index be41e5c4..dbe6a64a 100644
--- a/tests/test_biocommons_admin.py
+++ b/tests/test_biocommons_admin.py
@@ -120,6 +120,28 @@ def test_create_platform(test_client, as_admin_user, test_db_session, persistent
     assert [role.name for role in platform_from_db.admin_roles] == [admin_role.name]
 
 
+def test_create_platform_edna_explorer(test_client, as_admin_user, test_db_session, persistent_factories):
+    """eDNA Explorer is created like any other platform; access stays manual-approval only (not in DEFAULT_PLATFORMS)."""
+    Auth0RoleFactory.create_sync(name="biocommons/platform/edna_explorer")
+    admin_role = Auth0RoleFactory.create_sync(name="biocommons/role/edna_explorer/admin")
+    resp = test_client.post(
+        "/biocommons-admin/platforms/create",
+        json={
+            "id": PlatformEnum.EDNA_EXPLORER.value,
+            "name": "eDNA Explorer",
+            "admin_roles": [admin_role.name],
+        },
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == HTTPStatus.OK
+    body = resp.json()
+    assert body["id"] == PlatformEnum.EDNA_EXPLORER.value
+    assert body["name"] == "eDNA Explorer"
+    platform_from_db = test_db_session.get(Platform, PlatformEnum.EDNA_EXPLORER)
+    assert platform_from_db is not None
+    test_db_session.refresh(platform_from_db)
+    assert [role.name for role in platform_from_db.admin_roles] == [admin_role.name]
+
+
 def test_create_platform_duplicate_id(test_client, as_admin_user, test_db_session, persistent_factories):
     Auth0RoleFactory.create_sync(name="biocommons/platform/galaxy")
     admin_role = Auth0RoleFactory.create_sync(name="biocommons/role/galaxy/admin")
diff --git a/tests/test_biocommons_register.py b/tests/test_biocommons_register.py
index 30f3b1ab..5981a4da 100644
--- a/tests/test_biocommons_register.py
+++ b/tests/test_biocommons_register.py
@@ -773,3 +773,35 @@ def test_registration_endpoint_no_bundle(test_db_session, test_client, galaxy_pl
         assert platform in platform_ids
     for pm in user.platform_memberships:
         assert pm.approval_status.value == "approved"
+
+
+def test_edna_explorer_not_in_default_platforms():
+    """eDNA Explorer must be manual-approval only, so it must never be auto-granted at registration."""
+    assert PlatformEnum.EDNA_EXPLORER not in DEFAULT_PLATFORMS
+
+
+def test_registration_does_not_grant_edna_explorer(test_db_session, test_client, galaxy_platform, bpa_platform, sbp_platform, mock_auth0_client, mock_recaptcha_verify,):
+    """A newly-registered user must not receive an eDNA Explorer membership (manual approval only)."""
+    registration = BiocommonsRegistrationRequest(
+        first_name="No",
+        last_name="Edna",
+        email="no.edna@example.com",
+        username="no_edna",
+        password="StrongPass1!",
+        bundles=None,
+        recaptcha_token="mock-token",
+    )
+    auth0_data = Auth0UserDataFactory.build(
+        email="no.edna@example.com",
+        username="no_edna",
+        name="Test User",
+    )
+    mock_auth0_client.create_user.return_value = Auth0UserDataFactory.build(
+        user_id=auth0_data.user_id, email=auth0_data.email, username=auth0_data.username
+    )
+
+    test_client.post("/biocommons/register", json=registration.model_dump(mode="json"))
+
+    user = test_db_session.get(BiocommonsUser, auth0_data.user_id)
+    platform_ids = {pm.platform_id for pm in user.platform_memberships}
+    assert PlatformEnum.EDNA_EXPLORER not in platform_ids