The Global Dialogue on Sustainable Ocean Development

On Friday 5 Jule, the Indonesian Government launched their national Ocean
Accounts Dashboard, a publicly available, interactive platform containing all data related to Indonesia's national ocean accounts. The platform:
- Will be regularly updated using remote sensing data as well as on-the-ground surveys
- Uses a spatial frame that is harmonised across various sectors, allowing data to be used for decision-making related to Fisheries Management and Administrative Areas, Spatial Zonations, and Existing Marine Use Permits and their designated area

During the launch, the Government of Indonesia highlighted that ocean accounts are a powerful and important tool to (1) gather baseline data to track progress toward achieving international development agendas, including the Global Biodiversity Framework, (2) predict the impact of investment in coastal ecosystems health and (3) empower stakeholders to make informed decisions for a sustainable ocean economy.

"We consider ocean accounting as a powerful tool to allow sustainable practices to ensure ocean resources continue to thrive" - Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Government of Republic of Indonesia.

1. The first Latin America and Caribbean Ocean Accounting Community of Practice meeting where participants from 13 countries across the region discussed a six-year strategy to leverage existing knowledge and build capacity to collectively advance ocean accounting by 2030. The "Strategy for the LAC Community of Practice for Ocean Accounting" was launched on 4 July by GOAP Co-Chair, the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands. 
2. Launched: Progress Report on the Status of Ocean Accounting in Latin America and the Caribbean
   This report provides a summary of the progress made to date and plausible future opportunities in ocean accounting for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. Developed between 2023 and 2024 through interviews and stakeholder consultations, the report seeks to uncover the nuances and relevance of ocean accounting in the region, offering insights into both current practices and potential advancements.
   Authors: Marianne Feoli, Maria Granada Alarcon Blazquez, Dr Philip James.

During the Global Dialogue, the Africa Ocean Accounting Community of Practice convened for several regional events including a regional Knowledge Exchange and a Working Lunch. Members of the African CoP provided statements and perspectives to support the development of a draft Africa Ocean Accounts Strategy, outlining priorities to 2030. This strategy will be finalised through consultation in the latter half of 2024.

GOAP Co-Chairs, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia and the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, launched their shared Ambition Statement during the closing plenary of the Global Dialogue.

This document outlines their shared goals and vision for the Partnership over the next two years, including to:
▪ Strengthen existing GOAP Communities of Practice, with an ambition of growing to more than 50 Members across the globe.
▪ Build an ocean accounting Community of Practice across Latin America and the Caribbean, providing opportunities for training and learning across the region.
▪ By 2030, see fully integrated ocean accounts developed and directly applied to broader sustainable ocean development processes including, Marine Spatial Planning, area-based management and conservation of marine ecosystems and their services, Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs), ocean-based climate action, and sustainable finance.
▪ Support the global agenda for biodiversity under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The GOAP Secretariat looks forward to supporting the Co-Chairs through this vision to accomplish these ambitious goals.

The GOAP Secretariat has prepared a series of policy briefs outlining how ocean accounts can be integrated into different frameworks and concepts to accelerate and support the transition to a sustainable ocean economy.

These briefs were provided as training material during the technical training sessions at the Global Dialogue and are now publicly available here.