Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

They have created a global equity index for ocean-related activities

An international group has presented a global tool to measure and improve equity in ocean-related initiatives, projects and policies. It is an equity index that has been published in the open in Nature Ocean Equity Index (ESI). Among the authors are BC3 researchers.

As reported by BC3, this index allows public administrations, institutions, local communities, managers, researchers and funders to evaluate ocean-related activities. In fact, based on six frameworks, six principles and 12 criteria, it allows to analyze what rights are recognized, how decisions are made, how benefits are distributed and what can be done to improve equity.

Principles such as rights, diversity, participation, accountability, damages and benefits. It can be used from the local to the global scale, the user does not need specialized training and is valid for any area of the blue economy: fishing, marine conservation, offshore energy, marine spatial planning, public policies, etc

The authors applied the index in six case studies in different countries and scales (local, national and global) and have demonstrated that OIC is able to generate structured data to support evidence-based decision making, and to clearly identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Among the applications, the evaluation of financing proposals from an equity perspective, the monitoring and evaluation of projects, accountability, the promotion of learning and adaptation management processes and the design of fairer and more efficient initiatives that benefit both people and ecosystems stand out.