An implementation roadmap for Australia’s Ocean Accounts

Australia’s marine environment underpins national identity, economic prosperity and cultural heritage, yet fragmented information systems limit the ability of decision-makers to connect ocean health with economic activity, social wellbeing and long-term sustainability. This paper presents an implementation roadmap for Ocean Accounts in Australia, developed through a community whitepaper process informing the 2026–2035 National Marine Science Strategy. Ocean accounting extends the System of National Accounts and the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting to integrate environmental, economic, social and cultural information within a coherent framework that incorporates risk, governance and uncertainty. By linking natural capital stocks, ecosystem condition, service flows, beneficiaries and distributional outcomes, Ocean Accounts enable transparent evaluation of trade-offs, tracking of sustainability objectives, and identification of blue economy pathways that maintain natural capital while delivering equitable benefits. Indigenous, Traditional and Local knowledge – where communities choose to participate – provides essential perspectives, requiring Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate processes. We outline marine science priorities needed to underpin national implementation across ecosystem assets, ocean-dependent economic activities, social and cultural dimensions, information infrastructure and institutional capacity. A phased roadmap describes near-term investments in data foundations and coordination, medium-term standardisation and integration, and long-term routine production of comprehensive accounts to support evidence-based, nationally consistent ocean governance.