48 Shifting Current Equity Trajectory
The ocean is important for everyone—it produces oxygen and food, stores carbon and heat, offers space for economic activities and recreation, and continues to inspire and support culture and well-being. Globally, the value of key ocean assets has been estimated at US $24 trillion and the value of derived services at between $1.5 trillion and $6 trillion per year (Cicin-Sain 2015; Hoegh-Guldberg 2015; Lillebø et al. 2017; OECD 2016). However access to ocean resources and sectors is rarely equitably distributed. Many of their benefits are accumulated by a few, while most harms from development are borne by the most vulnerable.
‘Close-Up Shot of Paper Cutouts’ by Artem Podrez used under a Pexels License
Inequity is a systemic feature of the current ocean economy. It is embedded in existing political and economic systems, the result of historical legacies and prevailing norms. This has brought global environmental challenges and negative effects on human well-being. Legal frameworks to support equity exist but are not sufficiently developed. In practice, ocean policies are largely equity-blind, poorly implemented and fail to address inequity.
Inequity manifests, for example, in unfair distribution of commercial fish catches; limited political power of small-scale fishers, particularly women and other minority groups; limited engagement of developing nations in high-seas activities and associated decision-making; and consolidated interests of global supply chains in a few transnational corporations, with evidence of poor transparency and human rights abuses.
Climate change will create and worsen challenges of fairness and equity faced by developing countries, regions and communities reliant on marine livelihoods. Discussions on environmental sustainability have largely overshadowed concerns about social equity. Addressing inequalities and preventing the widening of ocean inequities are integral to a sustainable ocean economy; and promoting equity is essential for securing fair development, the legitimacy of policies, social stability and sustainability.
A sustainable ocean economy should protect human rights, improve human well-being, stimulate inclusion and gender equity, and prioritise recognition, diversity and equal access to resources to provide fair opportunities consistent with sustainable development. It should also address corruption and tax evasion, demand responsible and transparent business practices and create a shared economy that facilitates a fair redistribution of wealth and benefits. A sustainable ocean economy should be aware of environmental and social limits on growth and consider degrowth where appropriate.
Shifting a historical trajectory of persistent and increasing inequities will require strong leadership, inclusive governance and long-term planning that starts with a commitment to equity as integral to a sustainable ocean economy and relationships within and across nations.
Text Attribution
This text is from “The Blue Compendium (Chapter: Towards Ocean Equity)” by © 2023 Henrik Österblom, Colette C. C. Wabnitz, Dire Tladi, Edward H. Allison, Sophie Arnaud-Haond, Jan Bebbington, Nathan Bennett, Robert Blasiak, Wiebren Boonstra, Afrina Choudhury, Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor, Tim Daw, Michael Fabinyi, Nicole Franz, Harriet Harden-Davies, Danika Kleiber, Priscila Lopes, Cynthia McDougall, Budy P. Resosudarmo & Samiya A. Selim is licensed under CC BY 4.0, with minor text edits which have been added by Trish Corbett.
End Text Attribution
Towards Ocean Equity
Activity: Towards Ocean Equity
- What is ocean equity?
- Why are ocean resources and benefits not distributed equally?
- Why do small-scale fishing communities often experience inequity in fisheries management?
- How might developing nations be disadvantaged in activities on the high seas?
- What sorts of solutions might be considered to help work towards ocean equity? Consider the difference between safeguard, no regret solutions and bold transformative approaches.
Activity: Test your Knowledge
Test your knowledge in the quiz below:
Activity Text Version
Activity: Test your Knowledge
This exercise invites readers to answer questions to test their knowledge, based on the shifting current equity trajectory information above. Questions and answers are listed below.
Question 1
Which of the following actions are potential opportunities to achieve equity in a sustainable blue economy? Select all that apply from:
- Understand the social-ecological system to enable secure, equitable distribution of resources and limits to growth
- Creating inclusive governance by incorporating local and indigenous communities voices and visions into the planning process
- Prioritise economic growth by growing mass industries
- Build local capacity to establish equity of opportunity
Answers to question 1
- Understand the social-ecological system to enable secure, equitable distribution of resources and limits to growth
- Creating inclusive governance by incorporating local and indigenous communities voices and visions into the planning process
- Build local capacity to establish equity of opportunity
End Activity Text Version
References
Cicin-Sain B. (2015). Goal 14—conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Beal, D., Elhaj, H., Abdullat, A., Etessy, P., & Smits, M. (2015). Reviving the Ocean Economy: the case for action-2015.
Lillebø, A. I., Pita, C., Rodrigues, J. G., Ramos, S., & Villasante, S. (2017). How can marine ecosystem services support the Blue Growth agenda?. Marine Policy, 81, 132-142.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). (2016). The ocean economy in 2030. OECD, Paris. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2016/04/the-ocean-economy-in-2030_g1g6439e.html
