Goals in global OHI assessments

Global Ocean Health Index assessments score 10 goals, some of which have sub-goals. The Ocean Health Index measures the ability of oceans to sustainably provide 10 products or services (called “goals”) that are important to humans. Here you will find a description of the goals used in global assessments. Goal-by-goal, you can explore the data used to model status and trend, as well as the pressures and resilience measures contributing to goal scores.

Goal scores are calculated by modeling data first as Present Status and Likely Future State.
Likely Future State is a combination of status, trend, pressures and resilience calculations, which unequally contribute to goal scores.

Scroll down for a description of each goal as well as the model and data used to calculate the goal (blue text links to descriptions of the specific data used in the calculation of each goal).

You can also explore a complete list of the data used in the calculations, complete methods, as well as OHI+ goal approaches.

Food Provision: Fisheries

Goal Description

The Fisheries sub-goal describes the amount of wild-caught seafood harvested and its sustainability for human consumption. The model generally compares landings with Maximum Sustainable Yield. A score of 100 means the country or region is harvesting seafood to the ecosystem’s production potential in an sustainable manner.

Model

The model assess the amount of wild-caught seafood that can be sustainably harvested, with sustainability based on multi-species yield, and with penalties assigned for both over- and under-harvesting. Each taxa landed within each FAO major fishing area is assessed separately based on B/BMSY (maximum sustainable yield) and weighted by its relative contribution to overall catch. The goal status score for each reporting region in each year was calculated as the geometric mean of the all stock status scores (Halpern 2015).

Reference points

The reference point is B/BMSY, at which harvest is both maximal and sustainable. The estimates of B/BMSY were obtained by applying a model developed by Martell & Froese (2012), and hereafter referred to as the “catch-MSY” method. The latter was chosen, among other data-limited methods available, based on simulation-testing showing that it most accurately predicted stock status for simulated stocks having a broad range of life history traits and different known sources of uncertainty. The catch-MSY approach improves upon the method used in the 2012 OHI-Global assessment in that it:

Leverages a mechanistic understanding of the connection between harvest dynamics and population dynamics and uses this to infer stock depletion levels (see also Thorson et al., 2013).
Is an indicator of stock abundance (B) rather than catch, making it more directly informative of stock status.
At least in some cases (i.e., those cases where the catch trajectory is not a monotonic increase), can be applied to developing fisheries (whereas the previous approach assumed a perfect score in those cases).

Data used in model

Status & trend

B/Bmsy estimates (fis_b_bmsy): The ratio of fish population abundance compared to the abundance required to deliver maximum sustainable yield (RAM and catch-MSY data)

Fishery catch data (fis_meancatch): Mean commercial catch for each OHI region (averaged across years)

Pressure

High bycatch due to artisanal fishing (fp_art_hb): Pressure due to artisanal high bycatch fishing identified by discard tonnes and standardized by NPP

Low bycatch due to artisanal fishing (fp_art_lb): Pressure due to artisanal low bycatch fishing identified by reported and IUU tonnes and standardized by NPP

High bycatch due to commercial fishing (fp_com_hb): Pressure due to industrial high bycatch fishing identified by discard tonnes and standardized by NPP

Low bycatch due to commercial fishing (fp_com_lb): Pressure due to industrial low bycatch fishing identified by reported and IUU tonnes and standardized by NPP

Intertidal habitat destruction (hd_intertidal): Coastal population density (25 mi from shore) as a proxy for intertidal habitat destruction

Subtidal hardbottom habitat destruction (hd_subtidal_hb): Presence of blast fishing as an estimate of subtidal hard bottom habitat destruction

Subtidal soft bottom habitat destruction (hd_subtidal_sb): Pressure on soft-bottom habitats due to demersal destructive commercial fishing practices (e.g., trawling)

Chemical pollution (po_chemicals): Modeled chemical pollution within EEZ from commercial shipping traffic, ports and harbors, land-based pesticide use (organic pollution), and urban runoff (inorganic pollution)

Nutrient pollution (po_nutrients): Modeled nutrient pollution within 3nm of coastline based on fertilizer consumption

Nonindigenous species (sp_alien): Measure of harmful invasive species

Genetic escapes (sp_genetic): Introduced mariculture species (Mariculture Sustainability Index) as a proxy for genetic escapes

Weakness of social progress (ss_spi): Inverse of Social Progress Index scores

Weakness of governance (ss_wgi): Inverse of World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Resilience

Management of habitat to protect fisheries biodiversity (fp_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

Fisheries management index (fp_fish_management): Country scale regulations and management of fishing

Artisanal fisheries management effectiveness (fp_mora_artisanal): Quality of management of small-scale fishing for artisanal and recreational purposes

EEZ protected marine areas (fishing preservation) (fp_mpa_eez): Protected marine areas within EEZ (lasting special places calculation applied to the entire EEZ)

Management of habitat to protect habitat biodiversity (hd_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

EEZ protected marine areas (habitat preservation) (hd_mpa_eez): Protected marine areas within EEZ (lasting special places calculation applied to the entire EEZ)

Social Progress Index (res_spi): Social Progress Index scores

Measure of ecological integrity (species_diversity_eez): Marine species condition (species subgoal status score) as a proxy for ecological integrity

Strength of governance (wgi_all): World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Food Provision: Mariculture

Goal Description

Mariculture measures the ability to reach the highest levels of seafood gained from farm-raised facilities without damaging the ocean’s ability to provide fish sustainably now and in the future. Higher scores reflect high food provisioning in a sustainable manner, while not compromising the water quality in the farmed area and not relying on wild populations to feed or replenish the cultivated species. A score of 100 means that a region is sustainably harvesting the greatest amount of farmed seafood possible based on its own potential.

Model

Model measures the quantity of sustainably harvested mariculture species per 1% of a regions aquaculture potential. The species assessed are strictly marine species from both the marine and brackish water FAO categories, excluding species not used as a source of food (FAO 2003, Halpern 2012). The sustainability score (SM,k) for each species in each country is based on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch aquaculture recommendations (Seafood Watch 2020).

Reference points

The reference point is 1% of aquaculture potential among all assessed regions.

Data used in model

Status & trend

Mariculture harvest (mar_harvest_tonnes): Tonnes of mariculture harvest

Mariculture sustainability score (mar_sustainability_score): Mariculture sustainability based on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Aquaculture Recommendations.

Potential tonnes of mariculture harvest (mar_capacity): Tonnes of mariculture harvest potential for each region based on biological variables and growth performance indices. Taken from Gentry et al. 2017 and adopted for the OHI.

Pressure

Sea level rise (cc_slr): Pressure due to rising mean sea level

Coastal nutrient pollution (po_nutrients_3nm): Modeled nutrient pollution within EEZ based on fertilizer consumption

Weakness of social progress (ss_spi): Inverse of Social Progress Index scores

Weakness of governance (ss_wgi): Inverse of World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Resilience

Management of mariculture to preserve biodiversity (g_mariculture): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: mariculture related questions

Mariculture Sustainability Index (g_msi_gov): Mariculture practice assessment criteria from the Mariculture Sustainability Index (MSI)

Management of waters to preserve biodiversity (po_water): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: clean water management related questions

Social Progress Index (res_spi): Social Progress Index scores

Strength of governance (wgi_all): World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Artisanal Fishing Opportunity

Goal Description

Artisanal fishing, often also called small-scale fishing, provides a critical source of food, nutrition, poverty alleviation and livelihood opportunities for many people around the world, in particular in developing nations. This goal measure whether people who need to fish on a small, local scale have the opportunity to do so. It has three sub-components: stock, access, and need. A score of 100 means the country or region is meeting the needs of artisanal fishermen or communities by implementing institutional supports, providing access to near-shore water, and maintaining the health of targeted species.

Model

Status model for this goal is a function of need for artisanal fishing opportunities and whether or not the opportunity is permitted and/or encouraged institutionally and done sustainability. This need was measured by an analogous proxy: per capita gross domestic product (pcGDP) adjusted by the purchasing power parity (PPP), which translates the average annual income (pcGDP) into its local value (PPP). These data correlate with UN data on the percent of a population living below international poverty standard, which directly ties to this need for small-scale fishing. The opportunity or ability to meet this need, we used data from (Mora et al.), which scores countries on the institutional measures that support or facilitate artisanal and small-scale fishing.

The sustainability of artisanal fishing practices could be approximated by the percent of fishermen that use sustainable gear such as hook and line versus unsustainable methods such as dynamite, cyanide and, arguably, gill net fishing. Unfortunately data on proportion of gear type used within a country is scarce at best and so we were unable to include this term in the calculation of this goal.

Reference points

The reference point for this goal is when all demand for artisanal fishing is allowed and/or achieved and done in a sustainable manner.

Data used in model

Status & trend

Artisanal fisheries opportunity (ao_access): The opportunity for artisanal and recreational fishing based on the quality of management of the small-scale fishing sector

Economic need for artisanal fishing (ao_need): Inverse of per capita purchasing power parity (PPP) adjusted gross domestic product (GDP): GDPpcPPP as a proxy for subsistence fishing need

Pressure

High bycatch due to artisanal fishing (fp_art_hb): Pressure due to artisanal high bycatch fishing identified by discard tonnes and standardized by NPP

High bycatch due to commercial fishing (fp_com_hb): Pressure due to industrial high bycatch fishing identified by discard tonnes and standardized by NPP

Low bycatch due to commercial fishing (fp_com_lb): Pressure due to industrial low bycatch fishing identified by reported and IUU tonnes and standardized by NPP

Intertidal habitat destruction (hd_intertidal): Coastal population density (25 mi from shore) as a proxy for intertidal habitat destruction

Subtidal hardbottom habitat destruction (hd_subtidal_hb): Presence of blast fishing as an estimate of subtidal hard bottom habitat destruction

Subtidal soft bottom habitat destruction (hd_subtidal_sb): Pressure on soft-bottom habitats due to demersal destructive commercial fishing practices (e.g., trawling)

Coastal chemical pollution (po_chemicals_3nm): Modeled chemical pollution within 3nm of coastline from commercial shipping traffic, ports and harbors, land-based pesticide use (organic pollution), and urban runoff (inorganic pollution)

Coastal nutrient pollution (po_nutrients_3nm): Modeled nutrient pollution within EEZ based on fertilizer consumption

Nonindigenous species (sp_alien): Measure of harmful invasive species

Weakness of social progress (ss_spi): Inverse of Social Progress Index scores

Weakness of governance (ss_wgi): Inverse of World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Resilience

Management of habitat to protect fisheries biodiversity (fp_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

Fisheries management index (fp_fish_management): Country scale regulations and management of fishing

Coastal protected marine areas (fishing preservation) (fp_mpa_coast): Protected marine areas within 3nm of coastline (lasting special places goal status score)

Management of habitat to protect habitat biodiversity (hd_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

Coastal protected marine areas (habitat preservation) (hd_mpa_coast): Protected marine areas within 3nm of coastline (lasting special places goal status score)

Social Progress Index (res_spi): Social Progress Index scores

Measure of coastal ecological integrity (species_diversity_3nm): Marine species condition (same calculation and data as the species subgoal status score) calculated within 3 nm of shoreline as a proxy for ecological integrity

Strength of governance (wgi_all): World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Natural Products

Goal Description

In many countries the harvest of non-food natural products is important for local economies and can also be traded internationally. The sustainable harvest of these products is therefore an important component of a healthy ocean. This goal assesses the ability of countries to maximize the sustainable harvest of living marine resources, such as seaweeds, fish oil and fish meal, and fish for the aquarium trade. It does not include bioprospecting which focuses on potential (and largely unknowable and potentially infinite) value rather than current realized value, or non-living products such as oil and gas or mining products which by definition are not sustainable.

Model & Data

The goal model measures the harvest level (in metric tons) for a product and the sustainability of that harvest. The sustabinality factor of ornamental fish was accounted for by adjusting its harvest level with a sustainability term based on the intensity of harvest per km^2 of coral and rocky reef relative to the global maximum (its ‘exposure’). The sustainability factor for ornamental fish also includes the ‘risk’ that is associated with known unsustainable harvest practices (i.e., the intensity of cyanide fishing for ornamental fish). The sustainability factor of seaweeds was based on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Aquaculture Recommendations, while the sustainability factor of fish oil was based on B/Bmsy values derived from our fisheries sub-goal, subsetted to the relevant stocks used for the extraction of fish oil and fish meal.

Three different natural products were assessed: ornamental fish, fish oil and fish meal, and inedible seaweeds and marine plants. Status of sustainable harvest of each product (tonnes) was calculated individually first. The overall goal score weights the status of each product by its proportional value (US dollars) relative to other harvested products.

Reference points

For ornamentals and seaweeds, the reference point is its maximum value (in 2008 USD) achieved in that country, under the assumption that the maximum achieved at any point in time was likely the maximum possible. This creates a reference point internal to each country. For fish oil, the reference point was based on the B/Bmsy values, taking a catch weighted average of B/Bmsy scores for each region and year.

Data used in model

Status & trend

Habitat extent of rocky reef (hab_rockyreef_extent): Area of rocky reef habitat

Seaweed mariculture sustainability score (np_seaweed_sust): Seaweed mariculture sustainability based on the Mariculture Sustainability Index (MSI)

Fish oil and fish meal score (np_fofm_scores): Score based on the amount of sustainably and unsustainably caught forage fish used for fish oil and fish meal. Penalties are assigned for both under harvest and over harvested based on B/Bmsy estimates.

Risk of harvest practices for ornamental fish (np_risk_orn): Based on whether ornamental fishing has unsustainable harvest practices (i.e., the intensity of cyanide fishing for ornamental fish, and any harvest of corals since they are CITES protected species). Risk for ornamental fish was set based on assessments of cyanide or dynamite fishing by Reefs at Risk Revisited (www.wri.org/publication/reefs-at-risk-revisited) under the assumption that most ornamental fishes are harvested from coral reefs.

Exposure of ornamental fishing to coral and rocky reef habitats (np_exposure_orn): The ln-transformed intensity of harvest calculated as tonnes of harvest per km2?of coral and/or rocky reef for ornamentals, relative to the global maxiumum.

Relative natural product harvest value (np_harvest_product_weight): Relative importance of three marine commodities (fish oil, seaweeds ornamental fish) within each region determined by finding the relative contribution per a 5 year average of harvest (in USD) divided by the total 5 year average harvest value (in USD) per each commodity within each region.

Seaweed natural product harvest (np_seaweed_tonnes): Yield in metric tonnes of seaweed

Relative ornamental natural product harvest tonnes (np_orn_tonnes_relative): Tonnes of harvest of ornamentals relative to maximum harvest of the ornamentals within the region observed across years

Pressure

Ocean acidification (cc_acid): Pressure due to increasing ocean acidification, scaled using biological thresholds

Sea level rise (cc_slr): Pressure due to rising mean sea level

Sea surface temperature (cc_sst): Presure due to increasing extreme sea surface temperature events

UV radiation (cc_uv): Pressure due to increasing frequency of UV anomolies

High bycatch due to artisanal fishing (fp_art_hb): Pressure due to artisanal high bycatch fishing identified by discard tonnes and standardized by NPP

Low bycatch due to artisanal fishing (fp_art_lb): Pressure due to artisanal low bycatch fishing identified by reported and IUU tonnes and standardized by NPP

Low bycatch due to commercial fishing (fp_com_lb): Pressure due to industrial low bycatch fishing identified by reported and IUU tonnes and standardized by NPP

Intertidal habitat destruction (hd_intertidal): Coastal population density (25 mi from shore) as a proxy for intertidal habitat destruction

Subtidal hardbottom habitat destruction (hd_subtidal_hb): Presence of blast fishing as an estimate of subtidal hard bottom habitat destruction

Subtidal soft bottom habitat destruction (hd_subtidal_sb): Pressure on soft-bottom habitats due to demersal destructive commercial fishing practices (e.g., trawling)

Nutrient pollution (po_nutrients): Modeled nutrient pollution within 3nm of coastline based on fertilizer consumption

Nonindigenous species (sp_alien): Measure of harmful invasive species

Weakness of social progress (ss_spi): Inverse of Social Progress Index scores

Weakness of governance (ss_wgi): Inverse of World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Resilience

Management of habitat to protect fisheries biodiversity (fp_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

Fisheries management index (fp_fish_management): Country scale regulations and management of fishing

Artisanal fisheries management effectiveness (fp_mora_artisanal): Quality of management of small-scale fishing for artisanal and recreational purposes

Coastal protected marine areas (fishing preservation) (fp_mpa_coast): Protected marine areas within 3nm of coastline (lasting special places goal status score)

EEZ protected marine areas (fishing preservation) (fp_mpa_eez): Protected marine areas within EEZ (lasting special places calculation applied to the entire EEZ)

CITES signatories (g_cites): Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) signatories

Management of habitat to protect habitat biodiversity (hd_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

Coastal protected marine areas (habitat preservation) (hd_mpa_coast): Protected marine areas within 3nm of coastline (lasting special places goal status score)

EEZ protected marine areas (habitat preservation) (hd_mpa_eez): Protected marine areas within EEZ (lasting special places calculation applied to the entire EEZ)

Management of waters to preserve biodiversity (po_water): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: clean water management related questions

Social Progress Index (res_spi): Social Progress Index scores

Measure of ecological integrity (species_diversity_eez): Marine species condition (species subgoal status score) as a proxy for ecological integrity

Strength of governance (wgi_all): World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Carbon Storage

Goal Description

The Carbon Storage goal captures the ability of the coastal habitats to remove carbon given their carbon uptake rate and health conditions. A score of 100 means all habitats that contribute to carbon removal are still intact or have been restored and they can function to their full carbon burial potential. Highly productive coastal wetland ecosystems or seagrass store substantially large amount of carbon have the highest sequestration rates of any habitats on earth. They are also threatened by under-regulated coastal development but are amenable to restoration and conservation efforts.

Model

Goal model measures the current ‘condition’ of habitats relative to reference conditions, weighted by the relative contribution of each habitat type to total carbon sequestration, using data from (Laffoley & Grimsditch 2009) (Halpern 2015 final).

Three coastal habitats known to provide meaningful amounts of carbon storage were included in this goal: mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes (Halpern 2012). Habitat conditions are measured mainly by their coverage area, and their relative carbon sequestration are weighted: Mangrove as 139, Saltmarsh as 210, and Seagrass as 83 (Halpern 2015 final).

Reference points

A temporal reference point (ie. coverage data of a historical point) was used for each type of habitat. We generally considered the reference years to be between 1980-1995, although these varied by habitat due to data availability.

Data used in model

Status & trend

Habitat extent of mangrove (hab_mangrove_extent): Area of mangrove habitat

Habitat condition of mangrove (hab_mangrove_health): Current condition of mangrove habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of mangrove (hab_mangrove_trend): Estimated trend in mangrove condition

Habitat extent of saltmarsh (hab_saltmarsh_extent): Area of saltmarsh habitat

Habitat condition of saltmarsh (hab_saltmarsh_health): Current condition of saltmarsh habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of saltmarsh (hab_saltmarsh_trend): Estimated trend in saltmarsh condition

Habitat extent of seagrass (hab_seagrass_extent): Area of seagrass habitat

Habitat condition of seagrass (hab_seagrass_health): Current condition of seagrass habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of seagrass (hab_seagrass_trend): Estimated trend in seagrass condition

Pressure

Ocean acidification (cc_acid): Pressure due to increasing ocean acidification, scaled using biological thresholds

Sea level rise (cc_slr): Pressure due to rising mean sea level

Sea surface temperature (cc_sst): Presure due to increasing extreme sea surface temperature events

Intertidal habitat destruction (hd_intertidal): Coastal population density (25 mi from shore) as a proxy for intertidal habitat destruction

Coastal nutrient pollution (po_nutrients_3nm): Modeled nutrient pollution within EEZ based on fertilizer consumption

Nonindigenous species (sp_alien): Measure of harmful invasive species

Weakness of social progress (ss_spi): Inverse of Social Progress Index scores

Weakness of governance (ss_wgi): Inverse of World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Resilience

Management of habitat to protect habitat biodiversity (hd_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

Coastal protected marine areas (habitat preservation) (hd_mpa_coast): Protected marine areas within 3nm of coastline (lasting special places goal status score)

Management of waters to preserve biodiversity (po_water): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: clean water management related questions

Social Progress Index (res_spi): Social Progress Index scores

Strength of governance (wgi_all): World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Coastal Protection

Goal Description

This goal aims to assess the amount of protection provided by marine and coastal habitats against flooding and erosion to coastal areas that people value, both inhabited (homes and other structures) and uninhabited (parks, special places, etc.). A score of 100 would indicate that these habitats are all still intact or have been restored to their reference conditions.

Model & Data

The CP model is based on the relative health of the habitats that provide shoreline protection, weighted by their area and protectiveness rank (Halpern 2015 final). Condition of each habitat was calculated with various methods depending on data availability, which are mostly based on coverage area. Rank weights for the protective ability of each habitat (Rk) come from previous work48 that ranks mangroves, corals and sea ice as 4, salt marshes as 3, and seagrasses as 1 (higher values are better) (Halpern 2012).

Below are the data sets for this goal.

Reference points

Data used in model

Status & trend

Habitat extent of coral (hab_coral_extent): Area of coral habitat

Habitat condition of coral (hab_coral_health): Current condition of coral habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of coral (hab_coral_trend): Estimated trend in coral condition

Habitat extent of mangrove (hab_mangrove_extent): Area of mangrove habitat

Habitat condition of mangrove (hab_mangrove_health): Current condition of mangrove habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of mangrove (hab_mangrove_trend): Estimated trend in mangrove condition

Habitat extent of saltmarsh (hab_saltmarsh_extent): Area of saltmarsh habitat

Habitat condition of saltmarsh (hab_saltmarsh_health): Current condition of saltmarsh habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of saltmarsh (hab_saltmarsh_trend): Estimated trend in saltmarsh condition

Habitat extent of seagrass (hab_seagrass_extent): Area of seagrass habitat

Habitat condition of seagrass (hab_seagrass_health): Current condition of seagrass habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of seagrass (hab_seagrass_trend): Estimated trend in seagrass condition

Habitat extent of seaice (hab_seaice_extent): Area of seaice (edge and shoreline) habitat

Habitat condition of seaice (hab_seaice_health): Current condition of seaice habitat relative to historical condition

Habitat condition trend of seaice (hab_seaice_trend): Estimated trend in seaice condition

Pressure

Ocean acidification (cc_acid): Pressure due to increasing ocean acidification, scaled using biological thresholds

Sea level rise (cc_slr): Pressure due to rising mean sea level

Sea surface temperature (cc_sst): Presure due to increasing extreme sea surface temperature events

UV radiation (cc_uv): Pressure due to increasing frequency of UV anomolies

Intertidal habitat destruction (hd_intertidal): Coastal population density (25 mi from shore) as a proxy for intertidal habitat destruction

Subtidal hardbottom habitat destruction (hd_subtidal_hb): Presence of blast fishing as an estimate of subtidal hard bottom habitat destruction

Coral harvest pressure (hd_coral): Pressure on coral due to harvesting as a natural product

Coastal nutrient pollution (po_nutrients_3nm): Modeled nutrient pollution within EEZ based on fertilizer consumption

Nonindigenous species (sp_alien): Measure of harmful invasive species

Weakness of social progress (ss_spi): Inverse of Social Progress Index scores

Weakness of governance (ss_wgi): Inverse of World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Resilience

Management of habitat to protect habitat biodiversity (hd_habitat): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: habitat related questions

Coastal protected marine areas (habitat preservation) (hd_mpa_coast): Protected marine areas within 3nm of coastline (lasting special places goal status score)

Management of waters to preserve biodiversity (po_water): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: clean water management related questions

Social Progress Index (res_spi): Social Progress Index scores

Strength of governance (wgi_all): World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Tourism & Recreation

Goal Description

Tourism and recreation in coastal areas is a major component of thriving coastal communities and a measure of how much people value ocean systems, i.e. by traveling to coastal and ocean areas. This goal aims to capture the number of people, and the quality of their experience, visiting coastal and marine areas and attractions. A score of 100 means a region uses its full recreational potential without harming the ecosystem.

Model & Data

Assuming that the total number of people engaged in coastal tourism and recreation activities is directly correlated with employment in the tourism sector (e.g., accommodation services, food and beverage services, retail trade, transportation services, and cultural, sports and recreational services), the TR model measures the proprotion of employment in tourism relative to total labor force in each country. The model also incorporated tourism competitiveness index (TTCI) from the World Economic Forum (WEF 2019) to capture the sustainability of the tourism industry (Halpern 2015).

Below are the data sets for this goal.

Reference points

Reference point is spatial: 90th quantile of coastal employment ratio among all regions.

Data used in model

Status & trend

Percent direct employment in tourism (tr_jobs_pct_tourism): Percent direct employment in tourism

Tourism sustainability index (tr_sustainability): Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI)

Pressure

Sea level rise (cc_slr): Pressure due to rising mean sea level

Coastal nutrient pollution (po_nutrients_3nm): Modeled nutrient pollution within EEZ based on fertilizer consumption

Pathogen pollution (po_pathogens): Percent of population without access to improved sanitation facilities as a proxy for pathogen pollution

Marine plastics (po_trash): Global marine plastic pollution

Weakness of social progress (ss_spi): Inverse of Social Progress Index scores

Weakness of governance (ss_wgi): Inverse of World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Resilience

Management of waters to preserve biodiversity (po_water): Survey responses by country to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Third National Report: clean water management related questions

Social Progress Index (res_spi): Social Progress Index scores

Strength of governance (wgi_all): World Governance Indicators (WGI) six combined scores

Livelihoods & Economies: Livelihoods

Goal Description

The jobs and revenue produced from marine-related industries are clearly of huge value to many people, even for those people who do not directly participate in marine-related industries. People value community identity, tax revenue, and indirect economic and social impacts of a stable coastal economy. This sub-goal Livelihood describes job quantity and quality for people living on the coast. Livelihoods includes two equally important sub-components, the number of jobs, which is a proxy for livelihood quantity, and the per capita average annual wages, which is a proxy for job quality.

Model

The Livelihood model is based on job and wage data:

jobs: the total number of jobs within marine sectors within a country, adjusted by sector- and development status-specific multipliers derived from the literature. The multipliers account not only for direct employment opportunities and revenue, but also indirect and induced economic effects, since activity in the direct industry stimulates additional jobs and revenue in related industries.
average wages per job within each sector: adjusted for PPP (ie. purchasing power parity) to control for differences in the purchasing power of a dollar across countries with respect to a range of common goods.

The marine sectors included in this model are: Tourism, Commercial fishing, Marine mammal watching, Aquarium fishing, Wave & tidal energy, Mariculture, Transportation & shipping, Ports & harbors, Ship & boatbuilding

Reference points

Because there is no absolute reference point for jobs (i.e., a target number of jobs would be completely arbitrary), its reference point is calculated as a relative value on a moving baseline: the value in the current year (or most recent year) relative to the value in a recent moving reference period, defined as 5 years prior to the current year. This reflects an implicit goal of maintaining coastal livelihoods and economies on short time scales, allowing for decadal or generational shifts in what people want and expect for coastal livelihoods and economy.

For wages we assumed the reference value for average annual wages is the highest value observed across all reporting units.

Data used in model

Status & trend

Sectors in each region (le_sector_weight): Proportion of jobs within each marine sector

Livelihood status scores (liv_status): Calculated using adjusted job and wage data in several marine sectors (data not updated since 2013)

Livelihood trend scores (liv_trend): Calculated using change in adjusted job and wage data in several marine sectors (data not updated since 2013)