Social equity indicators for a Blue Economy: Guidelines for application

Social equity goals are specifically stated in most new ocean management and development plans, notably those aligned with a Blue Economy that recognizes the significant and rising inequities across ocean spaces and sectors. However, the deeper significance of social equity has still not been fully integrated in policy and management practices, which often ask why it is relevant and how it can be measured in ways comparable to more familiar ecological and economic indicators. We propose a theoretical and practical framework (including examples of indicators) that builds on key concepts in critical environmental justice, antiracist and decolonial scholarships: difference (not all groups have equal opportunity, so interventions must serve the least well-off); intersectionality (people and groups have multiple self-identities); power relations (colonization has entrenched an ‘us-vs-them’ mentality); and interest convergence (goals of marginalized groups are often only pursued if they benefit the powerful). These principles are contrasted with three categories of indicators that sequentially build toward evaluating social equity goals: total outputs (what and how much do ocean sectors contribute or impact); disaggregated impacts (who shares in specific benefits and costs); and equity actions (specific actions taken to implement equitable processes and outcomes). Local, national, and intergovernmental evaluation plans can use these guidelines to clarify what aspects of development are being reflected in indicators, and what indicators need to be added for a fuller picture of outcomes that support the interests of marginalized populations across the world’s oceans.