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.