Social Accounts for the ocean: A path to inclusive and equitable ocean decision-making

Progress towards equitable ocean sustainability will only be achieved when decision-makers engage with, invest in and use social data. This information is required for decision-makers to identify trade-offs and leverage points to make informed, just, purposeful and defensible decisions that bolster rather than undermine a sustainable ocean economy and human well-being. The Ocean Accounts Framework presents an opportunity to integrate social, cultural and equity data in ocean decision-making. Ocean Accounts organize economic, environmental and social information to enable coherent measurement of progress towards the sustainable development of the ocean. In this article, we draw on the collective views of the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership Social Accounts Working Group to explore (i) how Social Accounts can be conceptualized, (ii) an action agenda for progressing the development and integration of Social Accounts into ocean accounting and decision-making and (iii) key principles that should be considered during the development of Social Accounts (including strategic partnerships, stakeholder alignment, inclusive design, transparency and respect for rights). We provide concrete and ambitious actions, which include: (i) developing a flexible and adaptable Social Accounts definition, (ii) undertaking pilot studies using existing data, (iii) developing a standardized structure for Social Accounts and (iv) communicating and advocating for the use of Social Accounts globally. Progress on Social Accounts has the potential to increase the visibility of communities and human-ocean relationships in decision-making and may aid progress towards achieving international commitments. • Ocean accounting is framework used in strategic decision making for the Ocean. • Ocean accounting integrates environmental, societal, and economic metrics. • Social, cultural, and equity components have remained insufficiently represented. • We provide a conceptualization and action agenda for developing Social Accounts.

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Publication Details

Journal
Environmental Science & Policy
Published
2025-10-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104221
Primary Topic
Coastal and Marine Management
Type
article
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article

Social Accounts for the ocean: A path to inclusive and equitable ocean decision-making

Nathan Wolf, R. Hidayat HM, R. McLeod, Reinhard Thoms et al.
Environmental Science & Policy
Coastal and Marine Management
article

Social Accounts for the ocean: A path to inclusive and equitable ocean decision-making

Nathan Wolf, R. Hidayat HM, R. McLeod, Reinhard Thoms, Malik Shoaib Ahmad, Tainã Gonçalves Loureiro, Rebecca Shellock, Philip James, J. Carter, Amy Hill, Maria Alarcon Blazquez, Christopher Rosado, Glen Finau, Mei-Yee Teoh, Eny A. Buchary, Michael Murunga, Kristine Grimsrud, Keith W. Oleson, Erisa Kurniati, C. Contreras, Abdullah Sulaiman, William Chen, Annisya Rosdiana, Oskar Lecuyer, S. P. Driscoll, Firyal Nada Salsabila Agung, R. Arinda, J.J. Chambo, J.A. Quijozaca Quijosaca, R. Cappabianca, M. Swaleh
article en

Abstract

Progress towards equitable ocean sustainability will only be achieved when decision-makers engage with, invest in and use social data. This information is required for decision-makers to identify trade-offs and leverage points to make informed, just, purposeful and defensible decisions that bolster rather than undermine a sustainable ocean economy and human well-being. The Ocean Accounts Framework presents an opportunity to integrate social, cultural and equity data in ocean decision-making. Ocean Accounts organize economic, environmental and social information to enable coherent measurement of progress towards the sustainable development of the ocean. In this article, we draw on the collective views of the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership Social Accounts Working Group to explore (i) how Social Accounts can be conceptualized, (ii) an action agenda for progressing the development and integration of Social Accounts into ocean accounting and decision-making and (iii) key principles that should be considered during the development of Social Accounts (including strategic partnerships, stakeholder alignment, inclusive design, transparency and respect for rights). We provide concrete and ambitious actions, which include: (i) developing a flexible and adaptable Social Accounts definition, (ii) undertaking pilot studies using existing data, (iii) developing a standardized structure for Social Accounts and (iv) communicating and advocating for the use of Social Accounts globally. Progress on Social Accounts has the potential to increase the visibility of communities and human-ocean relationships in decision-making and may aid progress towards achieving international commitments. • Ocean accounting is framework used in strategic decision making for the Ocean. • Ocean accounting integrates environmental, societal, and economic metrics. • Social, cultural, and equity components have remained insufficiently represented. • We provide a conceptualization and action agenda for developing Social Accounts.

Environmental Science & PolicyVol. 173
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US), Udayana University (ID), Charles Darwin Foundation (EC), University of Tasmania (AU), Statistics Norway (NO), World Resources Institute (US), The University of Western Australia (AU), Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NO), Technical University of Mombasa (KE), UNSW Sydney (AU), Agence française de développement (FR), Indonesian Pediatric Society (ID), Instituto Superior de Comunicação e Imagem de Moçambique (MZ), Institute for Biodiversity (DE), Universidad Internacional De La Rioja (ES), Climate Centre (NL), Sustainable Development Institute (US), Social Action (NG), Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (MZ), Galapagos (Belgium) (BE), University of Amsterdam (NL), Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Openalex Percentile: Top 59%
Coastal and Marine Management
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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