Circular ID TG-3.8
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Last Updated September 2026

Circular TG-3.8 · Section 3: Compiling Ocean Accounts from Relevant Data · 1 September 2026

Combined Presentations

Creates combined presentations that integrate physical, monetary, and qualitative accounts for ocean accounting, drawing on asset accounts (TG-3.1).

Version
0.9.3
Status
Draft
Stability
Applied
Last updated
September 2026
Responsible officer
Dr Jordan Gacutan
Drafting
AI-assisted drafting from GOAP Secretariat source materials; source list to be published at the close of consultation.

After completing this Circular, readers will be able to create combined presentations that integrate physical, monetary, and qualitative accounts for ocean accounting, drawing on asset accounts (TG-3.1), flow accounts (TG-3.2, TG-3.4), economic activity accounts (TG-3.3), social accounts (TG-3.5), and governance accounts (TG-3.7). Combined presentations are an analytical layer, not new accounts; they enable decision-makers to understand connections between ecosystem condition, economic activity, and human wellbeing. Key use cases include ocean management dashboards, parliament reporting on ocean wealth, SDG 14 progress tracking, and marine spatial planning. Section 3.1 covers combination principles; Sections 3.2—3.3 address physical-monetary and social-governance integration; Sections 3.4—3.5 cover compilation and communication; Sections 3.6—3.11 address extended balance sheets, the dashboard specification, cross-domain integration, sub-national presentations, and a worked example1.

Essential prerequisites:

Helpful background:

The SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework recognises that policy and analysis related to the environment and human connection to it can be framed in many ways, often requiring consideration of specific environmental themes such as biodiversity, climate change, oceans, and urban areas2. The ocean accounts framework responds to this need by integrating data from the SEEA Central Framework, SEEA Ecosystem Accounting, and the System of National Accounts into a coherent information set that supports decision-making for ocean governance.

Combined presentations enable decision-makers to monitor several trends: changes in ocean ecosystem extent and condition; changes in ocean wealth including produced and non-produced assets; ocean-related income and welfare for different groups of people; ocean-based economic production; and changes in how oceans are governed and managed3. These feed a range of ocean governance processes including marine spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, development planning for ocean sectors, and collaborative resource management.

The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) develops and promotes the ocean accounts framework internationally. The SEEA EA recognises the existence of an “ocean accounting community of practice” whose objective is to ensure that data common to multiple communities—including those for marine spatial planning, disaster risk, and climate change—are standardised and shared4. The GOAP has supported pilot studies in several countries (see Section 3.2) and continues to advance methodological guidance for implementing combined presentations.

The general ecosystem accounting framework illustrated in Figure 3.8.15 provides the conceptual foundation for combined presentations. It shows how ecosystem assets are measured through extent, condition, and other characteristics, how they supply ecosystem services, and how those services flow to the economy, generating benefits for society.

SEEA EA Figure 2.1 -- General ecosystem accounting framework Ecosystem assets (stocks) are measured by extent and condition, which together determine the supply of final ecosystem services (flows). Intermediate services flow between ecosystem assets and remain within the Environment but may underpin final services. Final services are supplied to and used (demanded) by the economy and benefit society directly. Nodes are coloured by stock, flow, or institutional domain. ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY EnvironmentAll ecosystems in the area Ecosystem assetsSpatial ecosystem stocks Intermediate servicesFlows between ecosystem assets ExtentArea of the ecosystem ConditionQuality vs reference Final ecosystemservicesFlows to economy & society EconomyBusinesses, government, households BenefitsSNA and non-SNA gains contains measured by supply determine supply may underpin supply & use(demand) direct produces Stock Service / benefit flow Domain / institutional unit

Figure 3.8.1 Ecosystem assets measured by extent and condition supply final ecosystem services to the economy and society. Intermediate services stay within the Environment. Nodes coloured by stock, flow, or institutional domain; economy nested within society.

The ocean accounts framework builds on SEEA EA ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition, and ecosystem services flow accounts, adding accounts for natural resources and physical flows from the SEEA Central Framework and accounts for the ocean economy, governance, management, and technology6. Figure 3.8.2 illustrates the coverage of this integrated framework.

Ocean accounting as an integrated stock-and-flow framework Three capital stocks shown as pillars across the top -- the ocean ecosystem (environment), the ocean economy (economy), and human and social capital (society) -- linked by flows. The environment supplies ecosystem services to both the economy and society directly; the economy contributes to the social conditions that build human and social capital; society supplies labour and capital to the economy; pressures return to the environment; and society directs governance and management responses onto the environment and economy. All three pillars feed downward into ocean accounting at the bottom, which records the stocks and flows in a common framework. ENVIRONMENT ECONOMY SOCIETY Ocean ecosystem assets extent · condition Ocean economy produced & financial capital Human & social capital health · education · employment culture · identity · wellbeing institutions · social cohesion ecosystem services pressures social conditions labour & capital ecosystem services governance & management records stocks & flows Ocean accounting integrated stock & flow accounts spanning environment, economy and society Stock -- measured at a point in time Flow -- measured over a period

Figure 3.8.2 Ocean accounting integrates environment, economy, and society pillars as linked capital stocks and flows. Flows include ecosystem services, labour and capital, pressures returning to the environment, and governance responses.

The core components of an integrated ocean account framework are:

Environmental accounts comprise the physical and monetary measurement of ocean-related environmental assets and flows:

Economic accounts document the contribution of the ocean to economic activity:

Social accounts record human dimensions of ocean-society relationships:

  • Wellbeing indicators for ocean-dependent communities (see TG-3.5 Social Accounts)
  • Equity measures showing distribution of benefits and burdens
  • Vulnerability and resilience indicators
  • Traditional knowledge and cultural connections (see TG-3.6 Traditional Knowledge)

Governance accounts document institutional arrangements:

  • Marine spatial planning coverage and zoning
  • Regulatory frameworks and compliance
  • Management effectiveness indicators (see TG-3.7 Governance Accounts)

The SEEA EA identifies three key principles that enable accounts for different themes to be combined into coherent presentations7:

First, there must be a clearly agreed geographical area. For ocean accounting, this is the ocean accounting area, which typically aligns with a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) plus territorial waters and coastal zones. For thematic presentations, a focus on more targeted areas (e.g., specific catchments, marine protected areas, or ecosystem types) may be appropriate. The delineation of geographical areas should follow the guidance in TG-0.1 General Introduction to Ocean Accounts regarding the ocean accounting area.

Second, there must be a set of entities that are the focus of accounting. In ecosystem accounting, the focus is on ecosystems; in the SNA, the focus is on economic units; in the Central Framework, the focus is on individual stocks and flows. Combined presentations integrate multiple entity types, requiring consistent classifications that allow linkages across domains. The classification frameworks described in TG-0.2 Overview of Relevant Statistical Standards provide the basis for this consistency.

Third, multiple accounts are required to organise relevant information for a single theme. The SEEA and SNA frameworks demonstrate that no single account captures all relevant information. The same applies to combined presentations: a coherent narrative for ocean sustainability requires extent accounts, condition accounts, service flow accounts, economic accounts, and potentially social and governance accounts.

Links between accounts are possible because of consistent application of a delineated geographical boundary and consistent classifications for agreed entities8. This allows combined presentations to convey a coherent narrative, support derivation of consistent indicators, and enable integration of data into models and analytical tools.

Accounting principles are equally applicable across different spatial scales and entities9. Combined presentations can therefore operate at national, regional, or local scales depending on the policy question being addressed. The SEEA EA notes that choices of geographical area, entity types, and classifications “should be made with a focus on the use of the accounts, including the potential to compare results over time and in different locations”9. For ocean accounting, this means that combined presentations for marine spatial planning may operate at local scales (individual bays, reefs, or marine management areas), whilst those supporting national development planning may aggregate to the full EEZ. Compilers should align the spatial scope of combined presentations with existing administrative boundaries and decision-making processes, following the broader guidance in SEEA EA para. 13.9 on linking geographical scope to existing data and governance arrangements.

The connections between the core ecosystem accounts that underpin combined presentations are illustrated in Figure 3.8.310. Ecosystem extent and condition accounts are mutually informing; condition data feeds into physical ecosystem service flow accounts; physical and monetary service flow accounts are linked through valuation; and monetary service flows provide the basis for monetary ecosystem asset valuation.

SNA 2025 Figure 35.3 -- Connections between the ecosystem accounts The five ecosystem accounts of the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework, grouped by domain. Within the Environment, ecosystem extent and condition jointly determine the physical flow of ecosystem services. That physical flow links by valuation to the monetary flow of ecosystem services, which straddles the Environment and the Economy and Society. The monetary services flow in turn accumulates into the monetary ecosystem asset. Nodes are coloured by whether they are physical accounts within the Environment or monetary accounts spanning the economy. ENVIRONMENT ECONOMY & SOCIETY Ecosystem extentArea of each ecosystem type (physical) Ecosystem conditionQuality relative to reference (physical) Ecosystem services flowPhysical supply and use of services Monetary ecosystem assetCapitalised value of future services Ecosystem services flowMonetary supply and use of services jointly describe determine supply valuation / pricing net present value Physical account (Environment) Monetary account (Economy & Society)

Figure 3.8.3 Five SEEA EA ecosystem accounts connect: extent and condition determine physical service flows that value into monetary accounts. Physical flows link by valuation to monetary service flows, which accumulate as NPV into the monetary asset account.

A distinctive feature of combined presentations is the integration of physical and monetary data to provide complementary perspectives on ocean resources. Physical accounts record stocks and flows in tonnes, hectares, cubic metres, or number of individuals; monetary accounts translate these into currency values that can be aggregated and compared with economic aggregates11.

Three approaches to physical-monetary integration are relevant for ocean accounting:

Parallel presentation displays physical and monetary accounts side by side, allowing users to examine both dimensions. This approach is particularly useful when physical quantities and monetary values diverge—for example, when the monetary value of a fish stock increases due to rising prices even as physical biomass declines. Parallel presentation preserves information in both dimensions without implying that one takes precedence. The asset account structure in TG-3.1 Asset Accounts provides the foundation for parallel presentation of physical and monetary data.

Hybrid accounts integrate physical and monetary data within a single table structure. The SEEA Central Framework describes hybrid accounts for environmental protection expenditure that show both monetary expenditure and associated physical outcomes (e.g., tonnes of pollutants removed)12. For ocean accounting, hybrid accounts might show investment in coastal protection infrastructure alongside physical measures of coastal erosion or protection.

Extended supply and use tables incorporate physical flows alongside monetary transactions. The SEEA EA describes how physical supply and use tables for ecosystem services can be linked to monetary supply and use tables, enabling analysis of the physical basis of economic activity13. For the ocean economy, this approach reveals the material throughput underlying economic output. The supply and use framework in TG-3.3 Economic Activity Relevant to the Ocean provides the basis for this integration.

Linking ecosystem services to economic activity

Section titled “Linking ecosystem services to economic activity”

Linking ecosystem services from marine ecosystems to economic activity is a central integration task. The SEEA EA framework provides the conceptual basis: ecosystem services represent the contributions of ecosystems to benefits, with ecosystem services flow accounts recording the supply by ecosystem types and the use by economic units and households14.

For combined presentations, the linkage can be illustrated by tracing provisioning services through to economic output, as summarised in Table 3.2.1 below.

StepAccount and contribution
1. Ecosystem extent and condition accounts(see TG-3.1 Asset Accounts) record the area and health of fish-supporting ecosystems.
2. Ecosystem services accounts(see TG-2.4 Ecosystem Goods and Services) record the biomass provisioning service — fish available for harvest.
3. Individual asset accounts(see TG-3.1 Asset Accounts, Section 3.3) record fish stock levels and sustainable yield.
4. Physical flow accounts(see TG-3.2 Flows Environment to Economy) record the harvest (extraction from the environment).
5. Economic activity accounts(see TG-3.3 Economic Activity Relevant to the Ocean) record the value added by the fishing industry.
6. Social accounts(see TG-3.5 Social Accounts) record employment, income, and wellbeing for fishing-dependent communities.

This sequence illustrates how combined presentations trace the pathway from ecosystem assets through ecosystem services to economic activity and social outcomes.

The ocean accounts framework has supported pilot studies across several countries, each answering policy-relevant questions through combined presentations15. The pilot studies in Samoa, Thailand, and Viet Nam centred on sustainable tourism, linking tourism income, natural resource use, land-based pollution, and ecosystem impacts. China’s pilot developed harmonised mangrove maps and improved understanding of environmental assets in Beihai Bay. Malaysia examined food security risk concerning fish stocks along the Straits of Malacca under expected future climate variability. All pilots depended on available data that were often limited, but one function of the ocean accounts framework was to guide the search for and integration of data15.

These experiences demonstrate that combined presentations can be compiled even with partial data coverage. Compilers should begin with available accounts and progressively expand coverage as data systems mature, following the incremental implementation approach described in TG-0.1 General Introduction to Ocean Accounts.

Combined presentations should explicitly address discrepancies between physical and monetary trends, as these often reveal important information for policy. Common discrepancies include:

  • Declining physical stocks with stable or increasing values: Rising scarcity can increase unit prices faster than stocks decline, masking physical depletion in monetary terms. This is particularly relevant for fisheries where declining catch per unit effort (CPUE) may coincide with increasing fish prices16.
  • Increasing physical stocks with declining values: Abundance can reduce unit prices, potentially reducing incentives for sustainable management
  • Unvalued ecosystem services: Many regulating and cultural services from marine ecosystems are not captured in monetary accounts, creating gaps between fuller physical measures and partial monetary values. The treatment of ecosystem services valuation in TG-1.9 Safe Usage of Monetary Valuation addresses these measurement challenges.

The SEEA EA notes that “monetary values may be a poor guide to physical sustainability” and recommends that combined presentations include both physical and monetary information17.

3.3 Including Social and Governance Dimensions

Section titled “3.3 Including Social and Governance Dimensions”

Combined presentations for ocean accounting extend beyond environmental and economic data to incorporate social and governance dimensions, following the full scope of the ocean accounts framework.

The 2025 SNA recognises that national accounts contribute to measuring wellbeing and sustainability beyond GDP, including through extended accounts for labour, human capital, and household distributional analysis18. For ocean accounting, social dimensions include:

Distributional analysis examines how the benefits and costs of ocean use are distributed across population groups. Combined presentations can show, for example:

  • How ocean economy employment is distributed by region, gender, and age group (see TG-3.5 Social Accounts, Section 3.6.2)
  • How coastal ecosystem degradation disproportionately affects vulnerable communities (see TG-3.5 Social Accounts, Section 3.3)
  • How access to marine recreation varies across income groups

Wellbeing indicators complement monetary measures with broader dimensions of quality of life. The social accounts guidance in TG-3.5 Social Accounts identifies relevant domains including employment quality, food security, health, and cultural connections to the ocean.

Vulnerability and resilience measures document the susceptibility of communities to ocean-related shocks and their capacity to adapt. Combined presentations can integrate data on:

Governance accounts document the institutional arrangements that shape ocean use and management (see TG-3.7 Governance Accounts). For combined presentations, governance data provides context for interpreting environmental and economic trends:

Marine spatial planning accounts show the allocation of ocean space across different uses, enabling analysis of how spatial planning decisions relate to ecosystem condition and economic outcomes.

Protected area coverage accounts document the extent of marine protected areas and other area-based conservation measures, which can be related to ecosystem condition and ecosystem service flows. SDG indicator 14.5.1 measures “Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas”19.

Management effectiveness indicators assess whether governance arrangements are achieving their objectives, providing context for understanding why environmental or economic outcomes are improving or declining.

The SEEA EA describes governance accounts as including “explicit consideration of institutional and legal frameworks such as zoning, rules and decision-making institutions, social circumstances of affected populations, and measures of ocean-related risks and resilience to them”20.

3.4 Compilation Procedure for Combined Presentations

Section titled “3.4 Compilation Procedure for Combined Presentations”

This procedure assumes that the underlying component accounts have already been compiled following the guidance in the relevant circulars (TG-3.1 through TG-3.7). The steps below address the additional work needed to combine those accounts into an integrated presentation.

Step 1: Define the policy question and presentation scope

Section titled “Step 1: Define the policy question and presentation scope”

The compilation process begins with defining the policy question the combined presentation will address. This determines which accounts to include, the geographical scope, and the temporal frame. SEEA CF para. 6.56 emphasises that “the structures of combined presentations of monetary and physical data are dependent on the availability of data and the question under investigation”21.

For ocean accounting, typical policy questions include:

  • Is the ocean economy growing sustainably? (requires asset accounts, economic accounts, and depletion measures)
  • How do coastal protection benefits from ecosystems compare to infrastructure costs? (requires ecosystem service accounts, ecosystem extent/condition accounts, and public expenditure accounts)
  • Are fishing communities benefiting from improved fish stock management? (requires fish stock asset accounts, economic accounts for fisheries, and social accounts for fishing-dependent communities)

Once the policy question is defined, compilers should document:

  • The specific policy decision or analytical purpose the presentation will serve
  • The primary users (cabinet, parliament, planning ministry, coastal management agency)
  • The geographical scope (national EEZ, specific coastal zone, marine protected area)
  • The time period and frequency (annual snapshots, multi-year trends)
  • Which accounts are essential versus desirable for answering the question

Step 2: Identify and assemble component accounts

Section titled “Step 2: Identify and assemble component accounts”

Based on the defined scope, compilers identify the component accounts required and assess their availability and quality. Component accounts may include:

Core accounts (always required):

  • Ecosystem extent accounts for relevant marine/coastal ecosystem types
  • Economic accounts showing ocean economy GVA and employment
  • At least one flow account (either environment-to-economy or economy-to-environment)

Supporting accounts (included as available):

  • Ecosystem condition accounts
  • Ecosystem services flow accounts (physical and monetary)
  • Fish stock or other individual environmental asset accounts
  • Social accounts (employment, distributional measures)
  • Governance accounts (protected areas, zoning)
  • Public expenditure accounts for ocean-related functions

For each identified account, compilers should verify:

  • Reference period (does it match the presentation timeframe?)
  • Geographical coverage (does it align with the defined accounting area?)
  • Classification systems (are they consistent with other accounts?)
  • Data quality ratings and limitations
  • Update frequency and publication lag

Step 3: Reconcile classifications and boundaries

Section titled “Step 3: Reconcile classifications and boundaries”

Before combining accounts, compilers must ensure consistent classifications and boundary definitions. The SEEA CF notes that “any differences in classification need to be resolved before physical and monetary data are combined” (para. 6.88)22.

Key reconciliation tasks include:

Geographical boundaries: Verify that all accounts refer to the same ocean accounting area. Where accounts use different spatial units (e.g., administrative regions versus ecosystem spatial units), establish concordance tables or spatial overlays to enable consistent aggregation.

Time periods: Align all accounts to a common reference period. The SEEA CF emphasises that “it is important to ensure that the source data underpinning the physical and the monetary data relate to the same accounting period” (para. 6.71)23. Where accounts use different reference dates (e.g., fiscal year versus calendar year, or biological stock assessment periods versus accounting years), document the adjustments made.

Product and industry classifications: Ensure that ocean economy accounts, supply-use tables, and physical flow accounts use consistent classifications. Map national classifications to ISIC (industries) and CPC (products) as described in TG-0.2 Overview of Relevant Statistical Standards.

Ecosystem type classifications: Confirm that extent accounts, condition accounts, and ecosystem service accounts use the same ecosystem type classification, typically based on the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology for marine biomes.

Measurement units: Standardise physical units across accounts. For example, ensure fish biomass is consistently measured in tonnes (live weight), ecosystem extent in square kilometres, and carbon flows in tonnes CO2-equivalent.

With component accounts identified and classifications reconciled, compilers design the presentation format. The SEEA CF describes a general structure (Table 6.4) that can be adapted for ocean themes, comprising four sections24:

Section A: Monetary flows

  • Supply and use of ocean-characteristic products (by industry and product)
  • Gross value added by ocean-related industries
  • Depletion-adjusted value added
  • Environmental taxes, subsidies, and transfers

Section B: Physical flows

  • Natural resource inputs (fish harvest, mineral extraction, water abstraction)
  • Ecosystem service flows (provisioning, regulating, cultural services by ecosystem type)
  • Residual flows (emissions, waste to marine environment)

Section C: Stocks and asset flows

  • Closing stocks of environmental assets (fish stocks, ecosystem extent, mineral reserves) in physical and monetary terms
  • Depletion and degradation
  • Closing stocks of fixed assets (vessels, offshore infrastructure, port facilities)
  • Gross fixed capital formation

Section D: Related indicators

  • Employment by ocean industry
  • Population in coastal zones
  • Productivity indicators (GVA per employee, resource productivity)
  • Intensity indicators (emissions per unit output, extraction per unit stock)

The column structure should remain consistent across all four sections to facilitate comparison. Typical column headings include:

  • Industries (by ISIC division or aggregation)
  • Households
  • Government
  • Capital accumulation
  • Rest of world
  • Total

Step 5: Populate the presentation and check accounting identities

Section titled “Step 5: Populate the presentation and check accounting identities”

With the structure defined, compilers populate the combined presentation by extracting relevant entries from component accounts. The SEEA CF stresses that accounting identities must be maintained: “it is important to ensure that the implicit relationships between quantities and prices are meaningful and reasonable” (para. 6.91)25.

Key accounting identities to verify:

  • Supply equals use: For each product in monetary terms and each physical flow, total supply must equal total use
  • Stock-flow consistency: Changes in asset stocks (closing stock minus opening stock) must equal net additions (total additions minus total reductions)
  • Physical-monetary consistency: For marketed flows, the ratio of monetary value to physical quantity must yield plausible unit prices
  • GVA aggregation: Sum of GVA across ocean industries must equal ocean economy GVA reported in economic accounts

Where discrepancies arise, compilers should investigate whether they result from:

  • Differences in scope between accounts (e.g., residence versus territory recording)
  • Timing mismatches (e.g., production versus consumption timing)
  • Genuine data errors requiring correction in source accounts
  • Conceptual differences requiring explanatory notes

Step 6: Add contextual information and interpretation

Section titled “Step 6: Add contextual information and interpretation”

The final step is adding contextual information that helps users interpret the combined presentation. The SEEA CF notes that combined presentations “have the potential to serve as a bridge between” scientists and economists (para. 6.59)26, requiring clear communication for diverse audiences.

Essential contextual elements include:

  • Introduction: Brief statement of the policy question addressed and how the presentation supports decision-making
  • Methodological notes: Description of scope, classifications, valuation methods, data sources, and quality limitations
  • Interpretation guidance: Explanation of key patterns, trends, and discrepancies visible in the data
  • Policy implications: Summary of what the integrated data reveal about sustainability, distribution, or governance effectiveness
  • References and links: Citations to underlying accounts and related circulars

For multi-period presentations showing trends, additional contextual information should cover:

  • Changes in methodology or coverage affecting time-series comparability
  • Revisions made to earlier periods
  • Factors explaining observed trends (policy changes, external shocks, data improvements)

Dashboards provide a compact format for presenting key indicators drawn from combined accounts. The SEEA Central Framework describes combined presentations that bring together information from various accounts to support decision-making27. For ocean accounting, effective dashboards typically include:

Headline indicators that summarise overall status:

Trend indicators that show change over time:

  • Change in ecosystem extent by type
  • Change in condition for key ecosystem types
  • Change in sustainable yield versus actual harvest (see TG-2.11 Resource Efficiency Indicators)
  • Change in ocean economy employment

Distributional indicators that reveal how benefits and impacts are distributed:

  • Ecosystem services by beneficiary type (see TG-2.4 Ecosystem Goods and Services)
  • Economic benefits by region and community type
  • Vulnerability indicators by population group

Pressure and response indicators that show drivers and policy actions:

Table 1 provides an illustrative indicator template organised by account domain, drawing on indicator categories derived from ocean accounts28. Compilers should adapt this template to national circumstances and priority policy questions.

Table 1: Illustrative Ocean Accounts Dashboard Indicator Template

DomainIndicatorAccount SourceSDG Linkage
Ecosystem extentTotal area of marine and coastal ecosystems (km²)Extent account14.2.1
Ecosystem conditionAggregate condition index by ecosystem typeCondition account14.1.1
Ecosystem servicesValue of provisioning services (fisheries, aquaculture)Ecosystem services flow account14.7.1
Ocean economyOcean economy GVA as share of national GDPThematic economic account14.7.1
EmploymentOcean-dependent employment by sector and genderEconomic activity account8.5.2
PressuresNutrient and pollution loads to marine waters (tonnes)Residual flow account14.1.1
GovernanceProportion of EEZ under marine spatial planningGovernance account14.5.1
Ocean wealthChange in total ocean natural capital (monetary)Extended balance sheet—

Combined presentations support derivation of indicators that span multiple account types. Examples relevant to ocean accounting include:

Efficiency indicators that relate economic output to environmental inputs:

  • Gross value added per tonne of fish harvested
  • Employment per hectare of aquaculture
  • Carbon emissions per unit of maritime transport output (see TG-2.11 Resource Efficiency)

Sustainability indicators that relate extraction to regeneration:

  • Harvest as a percentage of sustainable yield (see TG-2.11 Resource Efficiency Indicators)
  • Ecosystem degradation as a share of ecosystem service value
  • Depletion as a share of ocean economy value added

Intensity indicators that express environmental impacts relative to economic scale:

  • Pollution intensity of ocean industries
  • Land/ocean use intensity of coastal tourism
  • Resource intensity of aquaculture production

The SEEA EA notes that “there is the potential for data from the accounts to support climate change modelling focused on implications of projected climate change scenarios on economic activity”29. Combined presentations provide the integrated ‘data foundation’ for such analytical applications. In the ocean context, indicators derivable from ocean accounts include specific measures for ocean conditions such as acidification and concentrations of marine debris, as well as indicators for ocean-related beneficiaries such as income of small-scale fishers28.

Effective communication of combined presentations requires attention to audience needs. Key considerations include:

Policy relevance: Combined presentations should be organised around policy questions, not accounting structures. For example, a presentation addressing coastal resilience might draw on extent accounts (mangrove coverage), condition accounts (ecosystem health), economic accounts (coastal protection infrastructure), and social accounts (vulnerable populations).

Accessibility: Technical accounting detail should be supported by summary visualisations and plain-language interpretation. The SEEA EA notes that combined presentations “can be a useful tool for mainstreaming discussion” of environmental themes in broader policy discourse30.

Transparency: Combined presentations should document data sources, methods, and limitations, enabling users to assess confidence in the information presented. Quality assurance considerations from TG-0.7 Quality Assurance Principles apply to combined presentations.

Extended balance sheets are a specific type of combined presentation that integrates natural capital with conventional national balance sheets, supporting whole-of-ocean wealth accounting.

The 2025 SNA describes how balance sheets record the value of assets and liabilities at the beginning and end of accounting periods, with the balancing item being net worth31. For whole-of-economy wealth accounting, the scope of assets can be extended to include natural assets not traditionally recorded in national balance sheets.

For ocean accounting, extended balance sheets incorporate:

Produced assets including vessels, ports, aquaculture infrastructure, and offshore energy installations. These are recorded in conventional national balance sheets and can be allocated to ocean-related sectors. The SEEA EA notes that ocean wealth includes “produced assets (e.g. ports)”32.

Non-produced natural assets including:

Ecosystem assets representing the monetary value of marine and coastal ecosystems. The SEEA EA provides guidance on valuing ecosystem assets using net present value of expected ecosystem service flows33. Valuation follows the methods described in TG-1.9 Safe Usage of Monetary Valuation.

Extended balance sheets support derivation of ocean wealth indicators that complement flow-based measures like ocean economy GDP:

Total ocean wealth: The aggregate value of all ocean-related assets, including produced assets, natural resources, and ecosystem assets.

Ocean wealth per capita: Total ocean wealth divided by population, providing a measure of the asset base supporting each person’s potential ocean-derived wellbeing.

Ocean wealth change: The change in total ocean wealth between accounting periods, decomposed into:

  • Capital formation (investment in produced assets)
  • Natural growth (regeneration of renewable resources)
  • Depletion (extraction exceeding sustainable yield)
  • Degradation (decline in ecosystem asset values)
  • Revaluation (price changes)

Ocean wealth sustainability: The relationship between ocean wealth change and ocean economy output. Sustainable development implies that wealth is at least maintained over time; depletion of ocean wealth to support current consumption represents unsustainable use. This indicator connects to the sustainability indicators in TG-2.11 Resource Efficiency Indicators.

Extended balance sheets for ocean wealth face several limitations that should be communicated in combined presentations:

Valuation challenges: Monetary valuation of ecosystem assets remains methodologically challenging, with the SEEA EA valuation chapters adopted as recommendations rather than full international standards34. Extended balance sheets should present valuations with appropriate uncertainty characterisation.

Boundary issues: Ecosystem assets may provide services beyond national economic territory, creating challenges for allocating values to national balance sheets. This is particularly relevant for migratory fish stocks and ecosystem services with transboundary effects. The SEEA EA notes the opportunity to compile global ocean accounts for areas beyond national jurisdiction, where much data are already collected by international agencies35.

Non-substitutability: Monetary aggregation of produced and natural assets may suggest substitutability that does not exist ecologically. Extended balance sheets should be accompanied by physical accounts that reveal whether natural asset decline is being offset by produced capital or represents genuine wealth loss.

The SEEA EA observes that “a comprehensive set of ocean accounts enables decision makers to monitor several critical trends” including “changes in ocean wealth, including produced assets (e.g. ports) and non-produced assets (e.g. mangroves, coral reefs)”36. Extended balance sheets provide the framework for this monitoring.

3.7 Integrated Ocean Dashboard Specification

Section titled “3.7 Integrated Ocean Dashboard Specification”

Combined presentations carry the most policy weight when assembled into integrated ocean dashboards that present headline indicators across all four accounting domains (environmental, economic, social, and governance) in a single view. This section specifies the structure, indicator selection criteria, and layout for an ocean dashboard that can serve as the primary communication product of an ocean accounting programme. The dashboard design draws on the indicator categories identified in Table 1 (Section 3.5) and extends them into a fuller specification suitable for both printed reports and interactive web-based platforms.

An effective ocean dashboard presents a small number of headline indicators that together convey the overall status of the ocean-society relationship. The selection of headline indicators should satisfy three criteria: policy relevance (the indicator addresses a question that decision-makers actively consider), data availability (the indicator can be compiled from existing or planned accounts), and communicability (the indicator can be understood by non-specialist audiences). The following table specifies the recommended headline indicator set, organised by the four domains of the ocean accounts framework.

Table 3.7.1: Integrated ocean dashboard headline indicators

DomainHeadline IndicatorUnitAccount SourceUpdate Frequency
EnvironmentalTotal marine and coastal ecosystem extentkm²Ecosystem extent account (TG-3.1)Annual
EnvironmentalAggregate ecosystem condition indexIndex (0-1)Ecosystem condition account (TG-2.1)Annual
EnvironmentalFish stock status (proportion within biological limits)%Individual asset accounts (TG-3.1)Annual
EnvironmentalBlue carbon stock (mangroves, seagrass, salt marsh)Tonnes CEcosystem extent + condition accountsAnnual
EconomicOcean economy GVACurrency unitsThematic economic account (TG-3.3)Annual
EconomicDepletion-adjusted ocean economy GVACurrency unitsExtended economic account (TG-3.3)Annual
EconomicOcean economy share of national GDP%Thematic economic accountAnnual
EconomicResource rent from ocean natural assetsCurrency unitsAsset accounts (TG-3.1) + valuation (TG-1.9)Annual
SocialOcean-dependent employmentPersonsEconomic activity account (TG-3.5)Annual
SocialCoastal community wellbeing indexIndexSocial accounts (TG-3.5)Biennial
SocialIncome equity ratio (coastal vs national median)RatioDistributional accounts (TG-3.5)Annual
SocialFood security from marine sources (protein supply per capita)kg/capita/yrFlow accounts (TG-3.2) + social accountsAnnual
GovernanceMarine protected area coverage% of EEZGovernance accounts (TG-3.7)Annual
GovernanceOcean area under spatial planning% of EEZGovernance accounts (TG-3.7)Annual
GovernanceManagement effectiveness scoreIndexGovernance accounts (TG-3.7)Biennial
GovernanceEnvironmental expenditure for ocean managementCurrency unitsPublic expenditure accountsAnnual

Countries should adapt this indicator set to national circumstances, adding or replacing indicators to reflect priority policy questions. However, maintaining a consistent core set enables international comparison and benchmarking through the GOAP community of practice.

The dashboard should follow a two-tier layout: a single-page summary providing the overall picture at a glance, and a set of drill-down pages providing detailed analysis for each domain. This structure allows the dashboard to serve multiple audiences: ministers and executives who need a rapid overview, and technical analysts who require detailed breakdowns.

The single-page summary should present the sixteen headline indicators in a quadrant layout (environmental top-left, economic top-right, social bottom-left, governance bottom-right), with each indicator showing the current value, the trend direction (improving, stable, or declining), and the percentage change from the previous period. A central panel should display one to three cross-domain integration indicators such as depletion-adjusted GVA per capita or the ratio of ecosystem service value to ocean economy output. Colour coding (green for improving, amber for stable, red for declining) provides immediate visual assessment, though the dashboard should remain interpretable in greyscale for printed reports and accessibility.

Each drill-down page should present the full indicator set for one domain, accompanied by time-series charts showing trends over a minimum of five years (where data permit), spatial maps showing geographic variation across the accounting area, and explanatory text highlighting key patterns and policy implications. The drill-down pages should cross-reference related indicators in other domains; for example, the environmental drill-down should note the economic value of ecosystem services, and the economic drill-down should flag depletion and degradation adjustments. Data tables supporting each drill-down page should be published as downloadable datasets in machine-readable formats, following the interoperability standards described in TG-4.6 Data Harmonisation and Interoperability.

Table 3.7.2: Dashboard layout specification

ComponentContentFormatAudience
Single-page summary16 headline indicators in quadrant layout; trend arrows; cross-domain integration indicatorsOne page (A4/Letter); printable and webMinisters, executives, media
Environmental drill-downExtent trends by ecosystem type; condition indices; ecosystem service flows; pressure indicators2-4 pages with charts and mapsPlanners, environmental managers
Economic drill-downGVA by industry; employment trends; trade balance; investment; depletion adjustments2-4 pages with charts and tablesFinance ministry, planning commission
Social drill-downEmployment quality; income distribution; food security; vulnerability; cultural indicators2-4 pages with charts and mapsSocial policy, community development
Governance drill-downProtected area trends; spatial planning coverage; management effectiveness; expenditure2-4 pages with charts and mapsGovernance agencies, oversight bodies
Data annexFull indicator tables; metadata; quality notes; concordance documentationMachine-readable download (CSV/SDMX)Analysts, researchers

The dashboard should be updated annually in alignment with the national accounts publication cycle, with a target release date within twelve months of the reference period end. Interim updates for high-priority indicators (such as fish stock status or protected area coverage) may be published on a more frequent basis where data systems permit.

Integrating data across environmental, economic, and social domains is the central difficulty of combined presentations. Whilst the compilation procedure in Section 3.4 describes the general workflow, this section provides a step-by-step protocol for linking specific account types across domain boundaries. The protocol addresses four integration pathways frequently encountered in ocean accounting: linking land accounts to coastal zone accounts, connecting water accounts to marine quality indicators, integrating blue carbon into national greenhouse gas inventories, and reconciling plastics flows with waste accounts.

Terrestrial land accounts compiled under the SEEA Central Framework and SEEA Ecosystem Accounting record land use and land cover for national territory, typically stopping at the coastline. Ocean accounts record marine and coastal ecosystem extent from the coastline seaward. The integration protocol bridges these two domains to provide a continuous picture of the land-sea interface, supporting analysis of how land-based activities affect coastal and marine ecosystems.

The protocol proceeds in four steps. First, establish a common spatial framework that encompasses both the terrestrial coastal strip (typically defined as the area within a specified distance of the mean high-water line, such as 5 km or 10 km) and the nearshore marine zone (extending to the limit of the coastal ecosystem types such as mangroves, seagrass, and nearshore reefs). The spatial framework guidance in TG-2.12 Spatial Data Frameworks provides the basis for this delineation. Second, reconcile the ecosystem type classification used in land accounts (often based on national land cover classifications mapped to the IUCN GET terrestrial and transitional realms) with the marine ecosystem type classification used in ocean accounts (based on GET marine realm). The concordance should explicitly address transitional ecosystems (mangroves, salt marshes, estuaries) that may appear in both land and ocean accounts, ensuring they are counted once and allocated consistently. Third, compile a linked extent account that shows land use change in the coastal strip alongside marine ecosystem extent change in the nearshore zone, enabling analysis of how coastal development drives marine habitat loss. Fourth, verify consistency by checking that land-based pollution loads recorded in the residual flow accounts (TG-3.4) are physically plausible given the land use composition of the coastal strip.

Table 3.8.1: Land-coastal zone integration checklist

StepActionQuality Check
1. Spatial frameworkDefine coastal strip and nearshore zone boundariesBoundaries contiguous; no gaps or overlaps at coastline
2. Classification concordanceMap land cover classes to marine ecosystem types for transitional zoneEach transitional ecosystem allocated to exactly one domain
3. Linked extent accountCompile land use change and marine extent change in single tableTotal area equals sum of terrestrial strip plus nearshore zone
4. Pollution flow consistencyCompare land-based pollution loads to coastal water qualityNutrient loads from land accounts plausible given receiving water volumes

Water accounts compiled under the SEEA Central Framework (Chapter 3) record water abstraction, use, and return flows within the hydrological cycle. Marine quality monitoring programmes measure concentrations of nutrients, sediments, and pollutants in coastal and marine waters. The integration protocol links these two information systems to enable analysis of how freshwater management decisions affect marine environmental quality.

The protocol requires, first, identifying the river basins and coastal catchments that discharge into the ocean accounting area. Water accounts for these catchments provide data on return flows (treated and untreated wastewater discharges) and diffuse pollution loads (agricultural runoff, urban stormwater). Second, the return flow data from water accounts should be expressed in terms of pollutant loads (tonnes of nitrogen, phosphorus, suspended sediments, and biochemical oxygen demand) rather than water volumes alone. This requires combining water volume data with concentration measurements, which may come from water quality monitoring stations operated by environmental agencies. Third, the pollutant loads should be linked to the residual flow accounts in TG-3.4 Flows Economy to Environment, which record emissions from economic activities to the marine environment. Fourth, the resulting pollutant load estimates should be reconciled with marine water quality observations from coastal monitoring programmes, checking that the estimated loads are consistent with observed concentrations given the dilution and assimilative capacity of receiving waters. Discrepancies may indicate unaccounted pollution sources (such as atmospheric deposition or groundwater discharge) or errors in load estimation.

Table 3.8.2: Water-marine quality integration protocol

Data SourceVariablesTransformationOcean Account Destination
Water accounts (SEEA CF)Return flow volumes by catchmentMultiply by pollutant concentrationsResidual flow accounts (TG-3.4)
Water quality monitoringPollutant concentrations at discharge pointsConvert to load estimates (concentration x flow)Residual flow accounts
Marine monitoringCoastal water quality indicesCompare with estimated loads for consistencyEcosystem condition accounts (TG-3.1 Section 3.5.2)
Agricultural statisticsFertiliser application rates by crop and regionApply runoff coefficients for diffuse load estimatesResidual flow accounts

Blue carbon integration links carbon stock data from ocean extent and condition accounts to national GHG inventories, ensuring consistent treatment of mangrove, seagrass, salt marsh, and kelp carbon flows under IPCC wetlands guidance. For the full blue carbon integration protocol, including the stock decomposition method, IPCC category mapping, and reconciliation checklist, see TG-6.2 Mangrove and Coastal Wetland Accounting.

Marine plastic pollution is a priority policy concern that requires integration of data from waste accounts (recording plastic waste generation, collection, and disposal), residual flow accounts (recording plastic leakage to the marine environment), and marine debris monitoring (recording plastic concentrations in coastal and marine waters). The integration protocol links these data streams to provide a complete material flow account for plastics from production through to marine accumulation.

The protocol begins with the waste accounts compiled under the SEEA Central Framework, which record waste generation by economic activity and waste management (collection, recycling, disposal) by waste type. Compilers should extract plastic waste flows from the waste accounts, using the relevant waste classification categories. Second, plastic leakage to the marine environment should be estimated using a combination of waste management data (uncollected waste, landfill leakage) and pathway analysis (riverine transport, coastal littering, maritime sources). The pollution flow accounts in TG-2.7 Pollution and Other Flows provide guidance on estimating residual flows. Third, marine debris monitoring data (beach surveys, trawl surveys, remote sensing) should be compiled as condition indicators for the relevant marine ecosystem types, following the condition accounting guidance in TG-2.1 Aggregate Biophysical Indicators of Environmental State. Fourth, the complete material flow should be reconciled: total plastic production minus recycling minus managed disposal minus exports should equal domestic accumulation (in landfills and the environment) plus marine leakage, within estimation tolerances. Discrepancies should be investigated and documented.

Table 3.8.4: Plastics material flow reconciliation

Flow ComponentData SourceUnitQuality Check
Plastic production + importsIndustry statistics, trade dataTonnes/yrCross-check with customs data
Plastic exportsTrade dataTonnes/yrVerify with partner country import data
Managed disposal (landfill, incineration)Waste management recordsTonnes/yrSum of disposal routes equals collected waste
RecyclingWaste management recordsTonnes/yrRecycling rate within plausible range for country
Uncollected wasteEstimated from collection coverageTonnes/yrConsistent with population and collection infrastructure
Marine leakagePathway analysis + monitoringTonnes/yrPlausible given uncollected waste and proximity to coast
Balance checkProduction + imports - exports = disposal + recycling + accumulation + leakageTonnes/yrResidual within 10% tolerance

Many ocean governance decisions are made at sub-national scales: by provincial governments, municipal authorities, port authorities, and local marine management bodies. This section provides guidance on adapting the combined presentation format for sub-national application, recognising that sub-national compilers typically face more constrained data environments and require simplified indicator sets that can be compiled with available resources.

Adapting the framework for provinces and municipalities

Section titled “Adapting the framework for provinces and municipalities”

The ocean accounts framework and the combined presentation structure described in Sections 3.1 through 3.8 are designed primarily for national-level application, but the SEEA EA explicitly notes that accounting principles are applicable across different spatial scales. Sub-national combined presentations follow the same general structure (environmental, economic, social, and governance domains) but require adaptation in three areas: spatial scope, data sources, and indicator selection.

For spatial scope, sub-national combined presentations should define the accounting area with reference to existing administrative boundaries (province, district, municipality) and the adjacent marine area over which the sub-national authority exercises jurisdiction or management responsibility. Where the sub-national authority does not have formal marine jurisdiction, the accounting area may be defined as the coastal zone within its terrestrial boundary plus a seaward extension agreed with the national ocean accounting programme. The spatial unit guidance in TG-2.12 Spatial Data Frameworks applies, with the additional requirement that the sub-national accounting area should nest within the national accounting area to enable aggregation.

For data sources, sub-national compilers will often lack the detailed economic statistics available at national level (such as supply-use tables or detailed industry GVA by sub-national region). Available data may include regional employment statistics, local government revenue data, fisheries landing records from local ports, and environmental monitoring from sub-national agencies. Remote sensing data (TG-4.1 Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data) and citizen science data (TG-4.4 Citizen Science) can supplement official statistics at the sub-national level.

For indicator selection, sub-national presentations should use a simplified indicator set that can be compiled with available data whilst still covering the four domains. The following table provides a recommended minimum indicator set for sub-national combined presentations.

Table 3.9.1: Simplified indicator set for sub-national combined presentations

DomainIndicatorMinimum Data RequirementCompilation Difficulty
EnvironmentalCoastal and marine ecosystem extentSatellite imagery + national land cover mapLow
EnvironmentalKey ecosystem condition indicator (e.g., water quality index)Local monitoring station dataMedium
EnvironmentalFish stock indicator (e.g., CPUE from local fleet)Local fisheries landing recordsMedium
EconomicLocal ocean economy employmentRegional labour force survey or censusLow
EconomicFisheries landing valuePort landing recordsLow
EconomicTourism visitor numbers and expenditureLocal tourism statisticsLow-Medium
SocialCoastal community population and demographicsCensus dataLow
SocialHouseholds dependent on ocean livelihoodsHousehold survey or censusMedium
SocialAccess to marine-related services (e.g., sanitation near coast)Administrative recordsLow
GovernanceLocal MPA or managed area coverageProtected area registryLow
GovernanceCompliance and enforcement indicatorsLocal management authority recordsMedium
GovernanceLocal government ocean-related expenditureBudget recordsLow

This simplified set of twelve indicators represents the minimum viable combined presentation for a sub-national area. As data systems mature, additional indicators from the full national dashboard specification (Section 3.7) can be incorporated.

Aggregation and consistency with national accounts

Section titled “Aggregation and consistency with national accounts”

Sub-national combined presentations must be designed for aggregation to the national level. This requires that sub-national accounting areas are exhaustive (every part of the national accounting area belongs to exactly one sub-national unit) and mutually exclusive (no overlaps). Classification systems used at the sub-national level must be consistent with national classifications, or concordance tables must be maintained to enable consistent aggregation. Where sub-national data are compiled independently by multiple agencies, a coordination mechanism is needed to ensure consistent boundary definitions, classification application, and temporal reference periods. The data harmonisation guidance in TG-4.6 Data Harmonisation and Interoperability provides the technical framework for this coordination.

The relationship between sub-national and national combined presentations should be documented in metadata, specifying: the nesting hierarchy of spatial units, any allocation methods used to distribute national data to sub-national areas (such as pro-rata allocation of national GVA based on employment shares), and any sub-national data that are compiled independently and aggregated upward to the national total. Where discrepancies arise between the sum of sub-national accounts and independently compiled national accounts, these should be treated as statistical discrepancies and documented transparently, following the quality assurance guidance in TG-0.7 Quality Assurance Principles.

Sub-national combined presentations are a key input to the compilation of ocean sustainability reports at local and regional scales. TG-3.11 Sub-National Ocean Accounts provides guidance on linking sub-national accounts to local planning processes and on dashboards for local decision-makers (its Sections 3.5 and 3.6). While combined presentations maintain the formal accounting structure (tables, indicators, and methodological documentation), sustainability reports translate these into accessible narratives with policy recommendations. Sub-national authorities preparing sustainability reports should compile the simplified combined presentation described in this section as the data foundation, then apply the local-planning and dashboard guidance in TG-3.11 to produce the final report. The feedback loop between reporting requirements and data compilation priorities should inform progressive improvements in sub-national data collection, with the most policy-relevant indicators receiving priority investment in data quality and timeliness.

3.10 Worked Example: Integrated Coastal Zone Combined Presentation

Section titled “3.10 Worked Example: Integrated Coastal Zone Combined Presentation”

This section presents a worked example demonstrating how to compile a combined presentation for a hypothetical coastal zone. The example uses synthetic data to illustrate the compilation procedure described in Section 3.4, showing how component accounts are assembled into an integrated presentation that answers a specific policy question.

Policy question: Is coastal development in the Northshore Zone proceeding sustainably, balancing economic growth with conservation of marine ecosystems and coastal protection services?

Accounting area: Northshore Coastal Zone, encompassing 50 km of coastline, extending 12 nautical miles offshore, with total area of approximately 1,200 km² (at start of period: 152 km² of mangroves, 82 km² of seagrass meadows, 605 km² of coral reef ecosystems, and 370 km² of continental shelf waters).

Reference period: Calendar year 2025.

Primary users: Regional development authority, national planning ministry, coastal zone management agency.

The following accounts were available for the reference period:

Environmental accounts:

  • Ecosystem extent account (from satellite analysis and field surveys)
  • Ecosystem condition account (from monitoring stations)
  • Fish stock asset account (from stock assessment)
  • Ecosystem services flow account (physical measures only; partial monetary valuation)

Economic accounts:

  • Ocean economy thematic account for Northshore Zone (GVA by industry)
  • Employment account (by industry and demographic group)
  • Tourism expenditure account

Social accounts:

  • Household distributional account (income by coastal/inland residence)
  • Employment by gender and age group

Governance accounts:

  • Protected area coverage (marine protected area extent and status)

Data limitations: Monetary valuation of regulating services (coastal protection, carbon sequestration) incomplete; governance effectiveness indicators not quantified; full supply-use tables not available.

Based on the policy question, the presentation is structured into four integrated sections:

Section A: Environmental status and trends (extent, condition, services) Section B: Economic activity and benefits (GVA, employment, income) Section C: Sustainability indicators (depletion, degradation, pressure-state relationships) Section D: Governance and management response (protected areas, expenditure)

Section titled “Section A: Environmental Status and Trends”

Table 2: Ecosystem Extent and Condition (2025)

Ecosystem TypeOpening Extent (km²)Closing Extent (km²)Net Change (km²)Aggregate Condition Index (0-1)Change in Condition
Mangroves152150-20.68-0.03
Seagrass meadows8280-20.71-0.05
Coral reefs605600-50.58-0.07
Continental shelf37037000.64-0.02
Total1,2091,200-90.62 (area-weighted)-0.04

Interpretation: The coastal zone experienced net loss of 9 km² of ecosystem extent during 2025, driven by conversion of mangroves and seagrass to coastal development and degradation of coral reef systems. Condition indices declined across all ecosystem types, with coral reefs showing the most significant decline (0.07 reduction in condition index). The aggregate condition index (area-weighted average) for the zone fell from 0.67 to 0.62, indicating widespread ecosystem stress.

Table 3: Physical Ecosystem Service Flows (2025)

Ecosystem serviceUnitMangroveSeagrassCoral reefTotal supplyPrimary users
Fish provisioningtonnes/yr4502801,1201,850Commercial fisheries (1,620 t), Subsistence fishing (230 t)
Coastal protectionkm protected2761750Coastal properties, infrastructure
Carbon sequestrationtonnes C/yr1,8006401202,560Global community (climate regulation)
Recreationvisitor-days/yr8,00012,00095,000115,000Tourism operators, households

Interpretation: Coral reefs provide the majority of fish provisioning services (1,120 of 1,850 tonnes), whilst mangroves contribute the most to carbon sequestration (1,800 of 2,560 tonnes carbon per year) and coastal protection (27 of 50 km protected, after the 15 km of coastline protected by more than one type is allocated in proportion to each type’s share so that no stretch is counted twice). Recreation services are heavily concentrated in coral reef areas (95,000 of 115,000 visitor-days).

Table 4: Fish Stock Asset Account (2025)

EntryValue (tonnes)
Opening stock (1 Jan 2025)18,500
Additions
Natural growth3,200
Reductions
Commercial catch1,620
Subsistence catch230
Natural mortality2,150
Closing stock (31 Dec 2025)17,700
Sustainability measures
Sustainable yield (MSY estimate)1,500
Actual catch1,850
Depletion350

Interpretation: Fish stock declined by 800 tonnes (4.3%) during 2025. Actual catch (1,850 tonnes) exceeded sustainable yield (1,500 tonnes) by 350 tonnes, indicating overfishing and resource depletion. At current extraction rates, fish stocks will continue to decline unless catch is reduced.

Table 5: Ocean Economy Contribution (2025, million USD)

IndustryGVAEmployment (persons)Share of Zone GVA (%)
Marine fishing12.56208.2
Aquaculture3.81802.5
Coastal tourism45.21,35029.6
Maritime transport (port services)8.62405.6
Coastal construction15.389010.0
Other ocean-related4.13202.7
Total ocean economy89.53,60058.6
Non-ocean economy63.22,80041.4
Total zone economy152.76,400100.0

Interpretation: Ocean-related industries account for 58.6% of the zone’s gross value added and 56% of employment. Coastal tourism is the dominant sector (29.6% of GVA, 1,350 employees), followed by coastal construction (10.0% of GVA) and marine fishing (8.2% of GVA). The zone’s economy is heavily dependent on ocean resources and marine ecosystem health.

Table 6: Income Distribution (2025, households by location)

IndicatorCoastal HouseholdsInland HouseholdsZone Average
Median annual income (USD)18,40022,60020,200
Share employed in ocean economy (%)642848
Households below poverty line (%)221418

Interpretation: Coastal households earn 18% less than inland households on average and have higher poverty rates (22% versus 14%), despite higher dependence on ocean economy employment (64% versus 28%). This suggests that ocean economy jobs, particularly in fishing and aquaculture, provide lower incomes than inland employment, and that coastal communities are economically vulnerable to changes in marine resource availability.

Table 7: Integrated Sustainability Indicators (2025)

IndicatorValueInterpretation
Resource efficiency
GVA per tonne of fish caught (USD/tonne)6,757Fisheries generate USD 6,757 of value added per tonne of catch
Tourism GVA per km² of coral reef (USD thousand/km²)75.3Each km² of coral reef supports USD 75,300 of tourism GVA
Sustainability
Catch as % of sustainable yield123%Overfishing: catch exceeds sustainable yield by 23%
Depletion as % of fisheries GVA2.8%Depletion valued at resource rent of USD 1,000/tonne (350 tonnes x USD 1,000 = USD 350,000), representing 2.8% of fisheries GVA (USD 12.5M)
Ecosystem extent change (%)-0.7%Ecosystem extent declined by 0.7% during the year
Pressure intensity
Nutrient loads per unit coastal development (tonnes N/km²)3.2Each km² of development generates 3.2 tonnes of nutrient pollution
Tourist visitors per km² of reef158Coral reef areas receive 158 visitor-days per km² per year

Interpretation: The zone shows clear signs of unsustainable use. Fish catch exceeds sustainable levels by 23%, leading to stock depletion that reduces the net income from fisheries by 2.8%. Ecosystem extent is declining, and condition indices are falling across all ecosystem types. Nutrient pollution from coastal development and visitor pressure on coral reefs are contributing to ecosystem stress.

Section D: Governance and Management Response

Section titled “Section D: Governance and Management Response”

Table 8: Governance and Management Indicators (2025)

IndicatorValueTargetGap
Marine protected area coverage (km²)180300-120
MPA coverage as % of zone area15.0%25.0%-10.0%
Government expenditure on coastal management (million USD)2.4——
Coastal management expenditure per km² (USD thousand/km²)2.0——
Enforcement patrol days120180-60

Interpretation: Marine protected area coverage (15%) falls short of the national target (25%), with 120 km² additional area requiring designation to meet the target. Government expenditure on coastal management (USD 2.4 million, or USD 2,000 per km²) may be insufficient given the level of ecosystem stress observed. Enforcement capacity (120 patrol days) is below the planned level (180 days), suggesting monitoring and compliance challenges.

Section E: Balance Sheet and Adjusted Aggregates

Section titled “Section E: Balance Sheet and Adjusted Aggregates”

The four sections above present accounts side by side. This one brings them onto a single line. Two presentations do that: the ocean balance sheet, which states what the zone owns at a point in time, and the adjusted aggregates derivation, which states what it earned after the cost of running its natural capital down.

The ocean balance sheet. Assembled from the closing stocks of the asset accounts, produced and non-produced together. It is the presentation TG-3.1 Section 3.2 Step 6 names as the integration point for asset accounts, and the only one in which produced and environmental capital appear on comparable terms.

Table 9: Ocean balance sheet — structural template

OpeningClosingChange
Non-financial assets
Produced assets — vessels, aquaculture, energy, port, coastal protection[value][value][+/-]
Non-produced natural resources — aquatic, mineral and energy, water[value][value][+/-]
Ecosystem assets[value][value][+/-]
Financial assets[value][value][+/-]
Less: liabilities (incl. decommissioning provisions)[-value][-value][+/-]
Net worth[value][value][+/-]

Table 9: Structural template of an ocean balance sheet. Produced asset values come from the TG-3.1 Table 10 template, natural resources from Table 1b, ecosystem assets from Table 4. Decommissioning provisions are a liability, not a negative asset.

Adjusted aggregates. Gross value added measures production without charging for the natural capital consumed in producing it. The adjustment deducts consumption of fixed capital, as the SNA already does for produced assets, and then deducts depletion and degradation, which the SNA does not. The 2025 SNA treats depletion of natural resources as a cost of production analogous to depreciation, so the deduction is not an alternative accounting — it is the completion of the existing one.

All three deductions must be at constant prices. Holding gains are not income. TG-3.1 Section 3.7 shows an ecosystem account closing above its opening value in a year when extent, condition and biomass all fell, purely on revaluation; an adjusted aggregate that netted revaluation into the deduction would inherit that error.

Table 10: Adjusted ocean aggregates — derivation

LineSourceValue (million USD)
Ocean economy gross value addedTable 589.50
less consumption of fixed capitalProduced asset account(7.20)
Net ocean value added82.30
less depletion of natural resources, at constant pricesTable 4 depletion x resource rent (350 t x USD 1,000/t)(0.35)
less ecosystem degradation, at constant pricesCondition index decline x opening ecosystem asset value(2.85)
Environmentally adjusted net ocean value added79.10
Memorandum: adjustment as a share of GVA3.6%
Memorandum: revaluation excluded from the aboveAsset accounts4.10

Table 10: Derivation of environmentally adjusted net ocean value added for the Northshore Coastal Zone, 2025. Every line traces to an account compiled above or to the produced asset account in TG-3.1 Section 3.6.

Reading the derivation. The zone’s ocean economy reports USD 89.5 million of gross value added. USD 7.2 million of that is the using-up of vessels, ponds and port structures, and a further USD 3.2 million is the using-up of fish stocks and ecosystem condition. Net of both, the zone earned USD 79.1 million — 11.6 per cent less than the headline, and 3.6 per cent less than a conventional net measure that stops at produced capital.

The memorandum line is the one to watch over a run of years. USD 4.1 million of holding gains sat in the asset accounts this period, more than the entire natural capital deduction. A presentation that reported change in net worth without separating that line would show the zone’s ocean wealth broadly flat while its fish stocks fell 4.3 per cent, its reefs lost 5 km² and every condition index declined.

A caution on completeness. This derivation charges only for what has been measured. Degradation here covers the ecosystem types with condition accounts; services without a defensible valuation contribute nothing to the deduction, which biases the adjusted figure upwards. State what the deduction covers whenever the number is published, or it will be read as comprehensive.

Step 3: Integration and policy implications

Section titled “Step 3: Integration and policy implications”

The tables above together show declining condition alongside rising GVA; the gap between sustainable yield and actual harvest signals resource depletion; and distributional data reveal that coastal households bear a disproportionate share of ecosystem stress. Together these warrant the policy adjustments described in the scenario narrative.

3.11 Condition-to-Services Data-Flow Integration

Section titled “3.11 Condition-to-Services Data-Flow Integration”

Combined presentations that span condition and services require a structured linkage from condition account outputs to ecosystem service account inputs. The three-step pattern (inventory condition outputs, map them to service inputs, then assemble an integrated extent-condition-service table) operationalises the SEEA EA articulation of these accounts as a connected sequence37. Compilers should apply the service-specific methods and indicator guidance in Section 3.2 and the linked TG-2.x circulars when selecting indicators and conversion factors.

Combined presentations integrate data from multiple account types to support analysis and decision-making for ocean governance. Key principles include:

  1. Consistency: Combined presentations draw on underlying accounts compiled using consistent geographical boundaries, entity definitions, and classifications.

  2. Complementarity: Physical, monetary, social, and governance data provide complementary perspectives that together support fuller analysis.

  3. Policy orientation: Effective combined presentations are organised around policy questions, not accounting structures, with visualisations designed for decision-making audiences.

  4. Transparency: Methods, data sources, and limitations should be clearly documented to support informed interpretation.

Combined presentations are the analytical endpoint of the ocean accounts framework, enabling the derivation of integrated indicators and supporting the mainstreaming of ocean sustainability into national policy and decision-making.

For minimum institutional capacity, data infrastructure, and human skills requirements for compiling these accounts, see TG-0.8 Implementation Readiness Assessment. For guidance on adapting these methods to sub-national scales, see TG-3.11 Sub-National Ocean Accounts.

Authors: [To be confirmed]

Reviewers: [To be confirmed]

Footnotes
  1. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.1. “The framing provided by ecosystem accounting is systematic and comprehensive with respect to ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition and ecosystem services and offers one perspective on monetary values of ecosystem services and ecosystem assets.” ↩

  2. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.1. “Policy and analysis related to the environment and human connection to it can be framed in many ways. Often, it requires consideration of specific environmental themes, such as biodiversity, climate change, oceans and urban areas, among many others.” ↩

  3. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.81. “A comprehensive set of ocean accounts enables decision makers to monitor several critical trends: (a) changes in ocean ecosystem extent and condition and in associated flows of ecosystem services; (b) changes in ocean wealth, including produced assets (e.g. ports) and non-produced assets (e.g. mangroves, coral reefs); (c) ocean-related income and welfare for different groups of people (e.g. income from fisheries for local communities); (d) ocean-based economic production (e.g. GDP from sectors deemed to be ocean-related); (e) changes in how oceans are governed and managed.” ↩

  4. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.90. “Much of the information required to compile ocean accounts is common to other communities of practice including those for marine spatial planning, disaster risk and climate change. One objective of the ocean accounting community of practice is to ensure that these common data are standardized and shared.” ↩

  5. SEEA EA (2021), Figure 2.1 “General ecosystem accounting framework.” ↩

  6. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.83. See Figure 13.2 “Coverage of the ocean accounts framework.” ↩

  7. SEEA EA (2021), paras. 13.5-13.7. “First, there needs to be a clearly agreed geographical area… Second, it is necessary to have a set of entities that are the focus of accounting… Third, in accounting for a single theme, multiple accounts are required.” ↩

  8. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.8. “Links between the various accounts for a theme are possible because of the use of a clearly delineated and consistently applied geographical boundary and consistent application of classifications for agreed entities. This allows the accounts for one theme to convey a coherent narrative.” ↩

  9. SEEA EA (2021), paras. 13.9-13.10. “For any given thematic accounting exercise, there is no a priori restriction on the geographical area, type of entity or classification that must be applied.” and “Accounting principles are themselves equally applicable across different spatial scales and entities and are unaffected by the choice of classification. These choices should therefore be made with a focus on the use of the accounts, including the potential to compare results over time and in different locations.” ↩ ↩2

  10. SEEA EA (2021), Figure 2.2 “Connections between ecosystem accounts.” ↩

  11. SEEA CF (2012), para. 5.1. Asset accounts “record the stock of environmental assets at the beginning and end of each accounting period and the changes in the stock during the accounting period.” ↩

  12. SEEA CF (2012), Chapter IV describes environmental activity accounts including hybrid formats integrating physical and monetary data. ↩

  13. SEEA EA (2021), Chapter 7 describes physical supply and use tables for ecosystem services. ↩

  14. SEEA EA (2021), para. 7.1. “Ecosystem services flow accounts record the supply of ecosystem services by ecosystem assets and the use of those services by economic units.” ↩

  15. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.92. “The ocean accounts framework has proved effective in supporting several pilot studies, each of which has aimed towards answering policy-relevant questions.” Pilots in Samoa, Thailand, Viet Nam, China, and Malaysia are described. ↩ ↩2

  16. SEEA CF (2012), para. 5.457. “A commonly used indicator that is closely associated with the stock of aquatic resources, and in particular with fish, is the catch per unit of effort (CPUE).” ↩

  17. SEEA EA (2021), para. 12.4. The chapter on integrated and extended presentations discusses relationships between physical and monetary data. ↩

  18. 2025 SNA, Chapter 34 (Measuring Well-being) and Chapter 35 (Measuring the Sustainability of Well-being). “A unique feature of the 2025 SNA is the broadening of the national accounts framework to better account for elements affecting wellbeing and sustainability.” ↩

  19. United Nations SDG Indicator 14.5.1. See also SEEA EA para. 13.94 on ocean account indicators. ↩

  20. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.89. “The objective of the ocean governance accounts is to provide spatially explicit location-based information so that decision makers and planners can make the most effective decisions with respect to ensuring the sustainable use of the ocean.” ↩

  21. SEEA CF (2012), para. 6.56. “Different forms of combined physical and monetary presentations are possible and, indeed, there is no standard form for these presentations or accounts… Ultimately, the structures of combined presentations of monetary and physical data are dependent on the availability of data and the question under investigation.” ↩

  22. SEEA CF (2012), para. 6.88. “The monetary accounts and tables are compiled using a consistent set of classifications of products and industries as used in the SNA. For physical data, different classifications are often used for different topics and themes that are specifically developed for analysis of those topics… Any differences in classification need to be resolved before physical and monetary data are combined.” ↩

  23. SEEA CF (2012), para. 6.71. “It is important to ensure that the source data underpinning the physical and the monetary data relate to the same accounting period.” ↩

  24. SEEA CF (2012), Table 6.4 and para. 6.122. “Table 6.4 sets out a possible structure and some typical content for the presentation of combined physical and monetary data. It has four sections, covering monetary flows, physical flows, stocks and flows of environmental and fixed assets, and relevant indicators.” ↩

  25. SEEA CF (2012), para. 6.91. “It is therefore important, when combining monetary and physical data, to confirm that the implicit relationships between quantities and prices are meaningful and reasonable.” ↩

  26. SEEA CF (2012), para. 6.59. “Because these presentations combine physical data that may be of more immediate relevance to scientists, with monetary data familiar to economists, they also have the potential to serve as a bridge between both types of specialists in the context of their analysis of the environment.” ↩

  27. SEEA CF (2012), Chapter VI describes applications and combined presentations. ↩

  28. SEEA EA (2021), paras. 13.93-13.96 and Appendix A13.3. “In the context of ecosystems, the ocean may be viewed as a set of marine, coastal and transitional ecosystem types and any indicators derivable from SEEA EA can also be derived from the ocean accounts.” ↩ ↩2

  29. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.74. “There is also the potential for data from the accounts to support climate change modelling focused on implications of projected climate change scenarios on economic activity.” ↩

  30. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.46. Combined presentations “can be a useful tool for mainstreaming discussion of biodiversity.” ↩

  31. 2025 SNA, Chapter 13 describes balance sheets. ↩

  32. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.81. ↩

  33. SEEA EA (2021), Chapter 10 describes principles of valuation for ecosystem assets. ↩

  34. SEEA EA (2021), the monetary valuation chapters (Chapters 8-11, covering monetary ecosystem service accounts and monetary ecosystem asset accounts) were adopted by the UN Statistical Commission as recommendations rather than full international standards, pending further methodological development. ↩

  35. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.91. “The ocean is mostly an area beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). This introduces the opportunity to compile global ocean accounts, where much of the data are already collected by international agencies.” ↩

  36. SEEA EA (2021), para. 13.81. ↩

  37. SEEA EA (2021), Chapter 2 and Figure 2.2 describe the connected sequence of ecosystem extent, condition, and service accounts, with condition variables informing the supply of ecosystem services. ↩