A performance measure framework for ecosystem-based management

Abstract Effective management of ocean resources is crucial for achieving desired ecological, economic, and social outcomes. Marine ecosystem-based management (EBM) offers a comprehensive approach to achieve these goals, yet its implementation has been challenging and its effectiveness has been unclear. Therefore, we need performance measures to assess the effectiveness of EBM strategies. We developed a semi-quantitative assessment framework using existing indicators and performance measures from the business and project management world (e.g. Key Performance Indicators; KPIs), national and regional economic and social wellbeing performance measures (e.g. GDP, food security), and ecosystem status assessments (e.g. overfishing, biodiversity) to evaluate the success and performance of EBM outcomes. The framework consists of four main categories: (1) sector performance; (2) marine ecosystem status; (3) management and tradeoffs; and (4) human dimensions, each flexible enough to accommodate suitable indicators and reference points. We show how the framework responds to real case studies from Southern New England, the Gulf of Maine, and the Hawaiian Islands, USA; the Baltic Sea; and the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. The main observation from these performance measures is that higher scores in the management and tradeoffs consideration correlate with higher scores in the marine ecosystem status. Additionally, higher human dimensions scores tend to lead to higher sectoral performance scores. Although it is not certain that one leads to the other, this suggests that EBM is functioning as intended. The framework results show that there are many possible indicators, performance targets, and associated desired directionalities that can be combined to form possible performance measures across combined ocean-use sectors to inform EBM. The challenge lies in using these different operational indicators to assess the strengths and weaknesses of EBM approaches.