Navigating the Technical Guidance
1. Outcome
1Readers will identify the circulars relevant to their role, understand the dependency structure, and select an appropriate reading sequence.
2. Requirements
1Essential prerequisites:
- 2TG-0.1 General Introduction to Ocean Accounts — for the conceptual framework and the Ocean Accounts Framework structure
3. Structure Overview
3.1 Stability Classification (Badges)
1Each circular carries a stability badge. Full definitions and update triggers are in TG-0.4 Section 3.3.
| Badge | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Based on adopted international standards (SNA, SEEA) | TG-0.1, TG-0.6 |
| Applied | Interprets standards for ocean context; stable but may evolve | TG-3.1, TG-6.1 |
| Emerging | Addresses topics where standards are still developing | TG-3.5, TG-6.5 |
3.2 Version Numbering
1Version numbers appear in each circular’s frontmatter version field. Full revision policy is in TG-0.4 Section 6.
4. Edge Mapping: Framework to Circulars
1Edges from TG-0.1 Figure 0.1.2 mapped to their primary circulars. Edges E3, E4, and E11 are bidirectional.
2Abbreviations: FG1 = Focal Group 1: Ocean Economy; FG2 = Focal Group 2: Ocean Society; FG3 = Focal Group 3: Intermediate Ecosystem Services; SG1 = Supporting Group 1: National Accounts (SNA framework); SG2 = Supporting Group 2: Social Conditions; SG3 = Supporting Group 3: Ocean Environment and Ecosystem. Full definitions in TG-0.1 Section 2.
| Edge | Direction | Description | Primary Circular(s) | Relevant pathways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | FG1→SG3 | Pollution/residuals from economy to environment | 3.4 Flows econ→env, 2.7 Pollution flows | 5.2 National Statistician, 5.3 Ecosystem Analyst |
| E2 | FG2→SG3 | Pollution/residuals from society to environment | 3.4 Flows econ→env, 3.5 Social accounts | 5.2, 5.6 Social Scientist |
| E3 | FG1↔SG1 | Monetary flows between assets and economic sectors | 3.1 Assets, 3.3 Economic activity | 5.2, 5.4 Blue Finance |
| E4 | FG2↔SG1 | Social activities ↔ SNA assets | 3.5 Social accounts | 5.6 Social Scientist |
| E5 | FG1→SG2 | Economic contributions to social conditions | 3.5 Social accounts, 3.3 Economic activity | 5.2, 5.6 |
| E6 | FG2→SG2 | Social activities to social conditions | 3.5 Social accounts, 3.7 Governance | 5.6, 5.7 Implementation Coordinator |
| E7 | SG2→FG1 | Social assets enabling economic flows | 3.7 Governance, 3.3 Economic activity | 5.6, 5.7 |
| E8 | SG2→FG2 | Social assets enabling social activities | 3.5 Social accounts, 3.7 Governance | 5.6 |
| E9 | SG3→FG1 | Ecosystem services to economy (SEEA) | 3.2 Flows env→econ, 2.4 Ecosystem goods/services | 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 |
| E10 | SG3→FG2 | Ecosystem services to society | 3.2 Flows env→econ, 3.5 Social accounts | 5.3, 5.6 |
| E11 | FG3↔SG3 | Intermediate ecosystem services | 3.2 Flows env→econ, 2.1 Biophysical indicators | 5.3, 5.2 |
5. Audience Pathways
1Ten archetypes below with core sequences and extensions. For an interactive match, use Find the right circular. A Corporate Sustainability pathway (ESG/TNFD/CSRD) is under development.
5.1 Policy Executive
1Audience: Ministers, senior government officials, heads of agencies
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 General Introduction | 0.1 → relevant 1.x (policy context) → one 5.x case study | Delegate detail to technical staff |
5.2 National Statistician
1Audience: NSO compilers, official statisticians building ocean accounts
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 General Introduction | 0.1 → 0.2 → 3.1 → 3.2 → 3.3 → 3.4 | 4.1 → 4.2 → 4.3 (data methods); 2.x indicators for validation; 3.5—3.8 for expanded account types |
2Note: Focus on TG-3.1—3.4 before adding social or thematic modules.
5.3 Ecosystem Analyst
1Audience: Technical staff measuring ecosystem assets, condition, and services
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 → 3.1 Assets | 0.1 → 3.1 → 3.2 (env→econ flows) → 2.4 (ecosystem goods/services) | 1.9 Valuation, 5.x cases |
5.4 Blue Finance Practitioner
1Audience: Development banks, fund managers, sovereign debt offices, impact investors
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 1.7 Multilateral Finance | 0.1 → 3.1 → 3.2 → 1.9 → 1.7 → 1.8 | 5.2 Belize, 5.6 Maldives, 5.5 Indonesia, 2.6 Investment indicators |
2Why this sequence: TG-3.1—3.2 establish the asset and flow accounts. TG-1.9 explains how to translate these into monetary values relevant to finance. TG-1.7—1.8 then demonstrate how those values inform multilateral and project-level instruments.
5.5 MSP/MPA Practitioner
1Audience: Spatial planners, marine park managers, coastal zone managers focused on spatial tools
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 MSP | 0.1 → 1.2 → 1.3 (MSM/MPAs) → 3.1 (assets) → 4.1 (spatial data and remote sensing) | 6.1 Coral Reefs, 6.2 Mangroves — select thematic circulars matching your ecosystem type; 2.4 Ecosystem goods/services; 5.3 Fiji, 5.9 Vanuatu, 5.5 Indonesia |
5.6 Social Scientist
1Audience: Researchers on livelihoods, equity, governance, traditional knowledge
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Social Accounts | 0.1 → 3.5 → 3.6 (traditional knowledge) → 3.7 (governance) → 2.3 (livelihood dependencies) | 2.8 Climate indicators, 1.4 Sustainable Ocean Planning |
5.7 Implementation Coordinator
1Audience: Country project managers, NSO leads, inter-ministerial task force chairs
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8 Readiness Assessment | 0.8 → 0.1 → 4.7 (data coordination) → 3.8 (combined presentations) → relevant 3.x | 1.10 (national planning), 5.x case studies |
5.8 Research Frontier
1Audience: Academics, methodologists extending ocean accounting state of the art
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 0.2 + “Emerging” circulars | 0.1 → 0.2 → all “Emerging”-badged circulars | Contribute to new emerging methods |
5.9 Sub-National Planner
1Audience: Provincial and municipal planning officers, sub-national resource managers
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 3.11 Sub-National Accounts | 0.1 → 3.11 → 3.8 → 1.2 (spatial planning decisions) | 2.1 Biophysical indicators, 6.2 Mangroves, 6.1 Coral Reefs, 5.4 India, 5.5 Indonesia |
5.10 Indigenous and Community Practitioner
1Audience: Traditional resource managers, community leaders, Indigenous data custodians, organisations working on Indigenous data sovereignty
| Entry Point | Core Sequence | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6 Traditional Knowledge | 0.1 → 3.6 → 3.5 → 1.3 (MPA/governance decisions) | 2.3 Livelihood dependencies, 3.7 Governance, 5.3 Fiji, 5.9 Vanuatu |
2Note: Not all sections are equally relevant to community-level practitioners: concentrate on the circulars above. Case studies from Fiji and Vanuatu demonstrate Pacific context applications.
6. Dependency Graph
1Figure 0.5.1 illustrates the full prerequisite network across all active circulars. Nodes are coloured by section, and directed edges record which circulars depend on or enable others.
Figure 0.5.1
Prerequisite network of 69 active circulars across six sections; nodes coloured by section.
Source: TG circulars frontmatter prerequisites: and enables: fields, snapshot 2026-06-01 across src/circulars/section-{0,1,2,3,4,6}/.
2Foundation chain: TG-0.1 → TG-0.2 → TG-0.5 (this circular). TG-0.1 is the universal entry point.
3Accounts compilation chain: TG-0.1 + TG-0.2 → TG-3.1 → TG-3.2 → TG-3.3 → TG-3.4. TG-3.5—3.8 extend from this core.
4Decision-making chain: TG-0.1 → Section 1 (accessible after TG-0.1). Section 2 indicators typically require TG-3.1 for context.
5Data methods chain: Section 4 supports Section 3. Read it in parallel with or after TG-3.x.
6Case study and thematic methods: Sections 5 and 6 draw on Sections 3 and 4. Read them after the relevant compilation circulars.
7TG-0.7 and TG-0.8 may be read independently at any stage.
7. Quick Reference: All Circulars
1For a complete, up-to-date listing of all circulars with badge, status, and dependencies, see the Circulars Overview. Use Find the right circular for guided topic and audience-based navigation.
8. Acknowledgements
1Authors: [To be confirmed]
2Reviewers: [To be confirmed]