GOAP Progress Report 2025

The health of the ocean and our future prosperity are intrinsically linked.

The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) is transforming how countries measure and manage ocean resources by moving Beyond GDP to capture the full environmental, economic, and social value of marine ecosystems.

This 2025 progress report documents how countries across regions are moving from concept to implementation—embedding ocean accounts in national planning, using them to inform policy, and building lasting institutional capacity.

As the planet faces growing pressures on ocean resources, these efforts represent a critical step toward evidence-based governance that balances economic development with environmental sustainability and social equity. Through continued collaboration and shared learning, ocean accounts can help provide the foundation for a truly sustainable ocean economy that ensures environmental health, economic productivity, and social wellbeing now and into the future.

What Are Ocean Accounts?

Ocean accounts provide a coherent structure for organizing complex marine data, integrating environmental, social, and economic information to show how ocean ecosystems are changing, how resources are used, and how they contribute to livelihoods, wellbeing and economies.

Partnership Overview

Co-chaired by Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and Ecuador's Charles Darwin Foundation, GOAP brings together 44 member organizations from 23 countries including governments, research institutions, and international organisations. Through systematic approaches focused on policy integration, pilot implementation, capacity development, knowledge production, and inclusive engagement, GOAP is transforming how marine and coastal resources are measured, valued, and managed for people's well-being and societal development

Some Key Achievements (2019-2025)

• 36 ocean accounting datasets compiled across participating nations
• 33 countries undertaking ocean accounting initiatives within GOAP
• 1,446 individuals reached through 56 training and technical assistance sessions
• 20 ocean account development initiatives across 12 distinct ecosystem types mapped, including coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves and lagoons
• 33 Fellows supported as part of The GOAP Fellowship Programme
• 39 knowledge products published, including reports, strategies and policy tools

Regional Impact

GOAP operates across six regions with tailored approaches developed with partners.
(download the full report for details of programs, communities of practice and case studies).

• Africa: Pioneering social ocean accounting in Mozambique, with programs across many other countries
• Asia: Advanced implementations in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Maldives
• Latin America & Caribbean: National initiatives in Belize, Ecuador, and Costa Rica
• Pacific: National roadmaps developed for Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga and more
• Europe: Supporting EU marine policy frameworks and regional conventions
• North America: countries continue to integrate ocean values into their national statistical systems

Global Significance

GOAP aligns with major international frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and climate agreements, helping countries make evidence-based decisions for sustainable ocean governance.

Looking Forward

Ocean accounts are fundamentally about making visible the connections between human wellbeing, ecosystem health, and economic sustainability. GOAP envisions a future where ocean accounting is embedded in how countries govern their marine resources—informing policy, enabling investment, and supporting a just transition to sustainable ocean economies. By 2030, the Partnership aims to move from innovation to institution, ensuring ocean accounts don't just monitor ocean health but actively shape decisions about our ocean's future.

Read the full report to explore detailed country case studies, technical innovations, and the pathway toward embedding ocean values in national decision-making by 2030.