Publications

Latin America & Caribbean

Ocean accounting projects and initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean supported by the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership.

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North America

Ocean accounting projects and initiatives in North America supported by the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership.

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Pacific

Ocean accounting projects and initiatives in the Pacific region supported by the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership.

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Test publication demonstrating the YouTube embed component. Replace the video ID with an actual GOAP video.

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Counting the Blue Rand: Building South Africa's Ocean Economy Satellite Account

This study constructs a South African Ocean Economy Satellite Account (OESA) that is SNA-consistent, adapts lessons from international pilots to local data realities, and documents a stepwise compilation approach usable in similar settings.

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Natural Capital Accounting in the Maldives

Information on ocean accounting projects the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) is supporting in the Maldives

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The Social Data Audit Tool

GOAP Social Data Audit Tool helps countries evaluate if their existing national data systems can support the integration of social dimensions into Ocean Accounts.

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Social Accounts Working Group

The Social Account Working Group was established in 2024 to ensure that social, cultural and equity considerations are integrated into ocean accounting

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Valuing The Ocean Economy: Lessons from earlier adopters

The paper compares three Ocean Economy Satellite Account (OESA) pilots (Portugal, Norway, U.S.), extracts methodological lessons, and sets out a protocol that countries can adapt to their own data environments.

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Why ocean data must include people

Coastal communities remain largely invisible in ocean policy decisions. A new eight-country analysis reveals that countries have the tools and data to start integrating social data into Ocean Accounts transforming ocean governance into an instrument of equity.

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Leveraging national social data for Ocean Accounts

This report outlines a social data audit methodology which can be used as a first step in compiling social data within the ocean accounting framework.

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Handbook on Sustainable Ocean Plans: A Practitioners' Guide

The 'Handbook on Sustainable Ocean Plans: A Practitioners' Guide' provides a practical framework to help countries design and implement Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs). SOPs are comprehensive, country-driven frameworks to sustainably manage 100% of the ocean area under national jurisdiction.

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Training. Introduction to SEEA and Ocean Accounts

This training provides an overview of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA) and introduction to Ocean Accounts, including the integration of environmental, economic and social values.

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Consultancy opportunity. Integrating the social domain of Ocean Accounts in Belize: a pilot study towards global standards

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GOAP colour palette

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The Power of Data: the potential of Ocean Accounts for marine restoration

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Policy brief: The need for data on plastics – ensuring a transparent, equitable and ambitious global agreement to end plastic pollution

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Ocean Literacy for Ocean Sustainability: Reflections from Australia

From classrooms to coastlines, discover why understanding, valuing, and protecting marine environments could be Australia's most powerful untapped sustainability tool.

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Report: Advancing China's Sustainable Blue Economy - Building Strong Policy Foundations for Ocean Accounting and Blue Finance

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Ocean Accounts for Sustainable Development: Lessons from a Small Island State

Fiji Minister has a powerful call for why ocean accounts are critical for oceans, island states and their people

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GOAP Progress Report 2025

Progress report: How countries across global regions are moving ocean accounts from concept to implementation

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Interim Analysis of Ocean Based Climate Actions Communicated in New and Updated NDCs and NBSAPs

Interim analysis of ocean-based climate actions included in new and updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) & national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs)

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Joint Declaration: Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030

Signatories to the Pledge to advance Ocean Accounts by 2030

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Ocean Accounts

As ocean health declines countries need better information systems to manage ocean use, protect biodiversity, and address climate impacts.

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Ha Long Consensus on Ocean Accounting for Sustainable Development in South and Southeast Asia

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The Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030

Led by Costa Rica, the Pledge is open to countries and organisations that want to work together to strengthen the role of ocean accounting in governance. Will be featured at UNOC 3

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Financing to Secure a Sustainable Future for Marine Protected Areas

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Ocean Accounts Fellows

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Africa

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Latin America and the Caribbean

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Asia-Pacific

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North America and Canada

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Europe

Ocean accounting projects and initiatives in Europe supported by the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership.

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Global Plastic and Waste Data Tracker

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Ocean literacy: a pillar in achieving a sustainable ocean future

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Ocean accounts in Phang-Nga Bay, Thailand

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Data-driven solutions: the Plastics Data Checklist

In the context of the global plastic treaty, this Checklist outlines data required to understand the flows of plastics through a national economy and into the environment

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Advancing Ocean Accounting for Sustainable Development in Belize

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Europe Community of Practice

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Pacific Community of Practice

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Latin America and Caribbean Community of Practice

GOAP Latin America and Caribbean Community of Practice for Ocean Accounting (LAC CoP) Expander el conocimiento y uso de cuentas océanica para impactar política y apoyar el desarrollo sostenible del océano en la región 

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Progress Report: Latin America and Caribbean Community of Practice

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Ocean Accounts for Sustainable Ocean Plans: Enabling Decision-Makers to Measure Progress

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Policy Briefs

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Accounting for the Costa Rican Oceans

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Ocean Accounts as a Catalyst for Blue Bonds

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How Ocean Accounts can strengthen Parametric Insurance for coastal resilience

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Expert Groups

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Global Ocean Accounts Partnership Panel of Technical Experts

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Compiling preliminary SEEA Ecosystem Accounts for the OSPAR regional sea: experimental findings and lessons learned

Compiling preliminary SEEA Ecosystem Accounts for the OSPAR regional sea.

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Ocean accounts as an approach to foster, monitor, and report progress towards sustainable development in a changing ocean – The Systems and Flows Model

This publication describes the novel Ocean Accounting (OA) framework and its components; highlights its use opportunities, benefits, and challenges; and presents the Systems and Flows Model for OA.

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The Blue Carbon Ecosystem Conservation, Restoration and Accounting Program

GOAP is collaborating with the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and IUCN to develop blue carbon restoration and conservation projects within the Indo-Pacific region.

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Natural Capital Accounting in Laamu Atoll

The Government of the Republic of Maldives is developing natural capital accounts through pilot testing of the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) framework in Laamu Atoll.

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Into the blue – The blue economy model in Operation Phakisa 'Unlocking the Ocean Economy' Programme

This paper explores multiple definitions of the ocean and blue economies, and discusses the importance of adopting blue economy models.

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Every account counts for sustainable development: lessons from the African CoP to implement ocean accounts in the Western Indian Ocean region

This publication provides practical guidelines to start implementing national, regional or local ocean accounts, following the Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting.

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Exploring basic spatial units for the Ocean: identifying challenges and potential solutions

This paper identifies the challenges in establishing guidance for BSU within coastal and marine areas and investigates potential solutions.

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Knowledge Products

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South Africa Ocean Accounts

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Guidelines for Standardised and Comparable Reporting across Blue Planet Fund Projects

The document provides background on the UK's Blue Planet Fund, related programmes of work, and best practices in environmental-economic accounting related to marine environment development projects.

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Identifying Models for Institutional Arrangements for the Compilation of Ocean Accounts

This report provides an introduction to ocean accounts and identifies various institutional models suited for the inception of accounts.

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Linking Ocean Accounting to Marine Spatial Planning

This report outlines what ocean accounts are and how they can link to, and support, marine spatial planning.

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Spatial Data Structures for Ocean Accounts

This technical report introduces the ways spatial data is used within ecosystem accounting and ocean accounting more broadly.

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Using Ocean Accounting towards an integrated assessment of ecosystem services and benefits within a coastal lake

This paper develops an ocean account for Lake Illawarra in New South Wales, Australia, compiling the accounts for the years between 2010 and 2020.

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The emerging intersection between Marine Spatial Planning and Ocean Accounting: a global review and case studies

This paper presents the first analysis of the intersection between marine spatial planning and ocean accounting.

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Marine Spatial Planning and Ocean Accounting: Synergistic tools enhancing integration in ocean governance

This paper explores the roles MSP and ocean accounting play in strategic ocean governance, and how synergies may be enhanced to further an understanding of complex ocean systems.

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Ocean Accounts for Fiji

Fiji's ocean accounts pilot: a focus on Mangroves

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Ecosystem Services Factors

This report provides a compilation of global coastal ecosystem services factors for the purpose of enabling more coherent measurement of ocean services and the production of ocean accounts.

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A Guide to Creating Core Ocean GDP Accounts

This guidance document provides a comprehensive introduction into how to create core ocean accounts.

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The Global Ocean Asset Data Package

The Global Ocean Asset Data Guide provides practical support to countries for the use of global data on ocean assets in developing national ocean accounts.

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Viet Nam Pilot Ocean Accounts in Quang Ninh Province

Viet Nam's ocean accounts pilot: a case study in Quang Ninh Province.

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Ocean Accounts of Indonesia

Indonesia's ocean accounts pilot.

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Canadian Ocean Accounts: A Pilot Project

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What are ocean accounts?

Ocean accounts organise social, economic and environmental information to enable coherent measurement of progress towards the sustainable development of the ocean.

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Why are ocean accounts important?

Ocean accounts provide countries with the means to go Beyond GDP to measure and manage progress towards ocean sustainable development.

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Social Accounts

Social Accounts are the outputs of capturing, analysing, and reporting of data related to the social, cultural and equity dimensions of the human-ocean relationship within the Ocean Accounts framework.

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Ocean Accounts Explained by Rekam Nusantara Foundation

Rekam Nusantara Foundation created this video to build and share knowledge on ocean accounts it shows the diverse coastline of Indonesia while showing the use of ocean accounts for sustainable ocean development.

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Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting

The Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting outlines how to compile, use and maintain ocean accounts.

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Africa Dialogue Position Paper 2022

The paper summarises the thematic areas discussed at the Africa Dialogue and provides a number of recommendations for the advancement of ocean accounting and blue economies in Africa.

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The Ocean Accounts Framework

The Ocean Accounts Framework is a conceptual framework designed to enhance the consistency, comparability and coherence of ocean-related maps, data, statistics, and indicators across social, environmental and economic domains.

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Core Ocean Statistics v.1.0

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Global Progress Assessment on Ocean Accounting (2022)

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Experiences from Pilot Studies in Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism: A synopsis for policy makers

This report aims to showcase the excellent work conducted by pilot countries in advancing the implementation of Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST).

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Ocean Accounts Diagnostic Tool

The Ocean Accounts Diagnostic Tool is designed to engage and guide structured dialogue among stakeholders for strategically implementing and advancing ocean accounts.

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Developing a SEEA Ocean

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Africa Community of Practice

The GOAP Africa Community of Practice (ACoP) is a regional collaboration platform dedicated to developing ocean accounts in Africa.

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Ecosystem accounting for the ocean

Guidance on classifying coastal and marine ecosystem types, their conditions and services, as well as recommendations on the treatment of areas beyond national jurisdictions.

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Blue Paper: National Accounting for the Ocean and the Ocean Economy

This Blue Paper highlights the opportunity for incorporating ocean accounts into national accounting frameworks and the data and technology already available at our fingertips to do so.

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Asia-Pacific Community of Practice

The GOAP Asia Pacific Community of Practice (APCoP) is a regional collaboration platform dedicated to developing ocean accounts in the Asia Pacific region.

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Membership

GOAP membership is open to national governments, intergovernmental institutions, representative bodies of the private sector, and research-intensive institutions.

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Independent Evaluation of the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) 2025

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