Ocean accounts: a sea-change approach in ocean decision-making

The paper argues that traditional GDP-based metrics are insufficient for managing ocean economies because they ignore natural capital sustainability and social equity. It proposes the 'Ocean Accounts Framework' as a holistic alternative that integrates environmental, social, and economic data. To implement this in Africa, the authors suggest a roadmap involving cross-sectoral data sharing, international collaboration, and pilot studies in coastal regions to build human capacity and assess applicability.

• Traditional national accounting systems, specifically those relying on GDP and ocean satellite accounts, fail to provide data on the status of ecosystems, the sustainability of natural capital flows, or the equity and inclusivity of benefit-sharing.
• The Ocean Accounts Framework, developed by the Global Oceans Accounts Partnership, offers a holistic approach by integrating the System of National Accounts (SNA), the SEEA:CF, and the SEEA:EEA, while adding guidelines for ocean governance, risks, and social circumstances such as poverty and well-being.
• Ocean accounts provide several strategic advantages for governance, including the ability to assimilate large multidisciplinary datasets, create accessible decision-making dashboards, track UN Agenda 2030 SDG commitments, and monitor the distribution of costs and benefits across social groups.
• To advance ocean accounts in Africa, the authors propose a roadmap focused on three areas: national cross-sectoral information sharing, international transboundary data sharing, and utilizing international datasets.
• The implementation of pilot studies in African coastal regions is recommended to review available data, organize information into pilot accounts, and develop human capacity through academic exchange and mobility.
• Africa's dependence on ocean resources is growing for food, energy, and economic security, with 38 of its 54 nations being coastal and managing approximately 13 million square kilometres of ocean space.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2020). Ocean accounts: a sea-change approach in ocean decision-making. https://saiia.org.za/research/ocean-accounts-a-seachange-approach-in-ocean-decision-making/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Ocean accounts: a sea-change approach in ocean decision-making. 2020. https://saiia.org.za/research/ocean-accounts-a-seachange-approach-in-ocean-decision-making/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Ocean accounts: a sea-change approach in ocean decision-making |date=9 August 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/ocean-accounts-a-seachange-approach-in-ocean-decision-making/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2020ocean, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Ocean accounts: a sea-change approach in ocean decision-making}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/ocean-accounts-a-seachange-approach-in-ocean-decision-making/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }