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Perspective

The Ocean Equity Index is flawed, misleading, and lacks validation

Amelia Moore, Andrés M. Cisneros-Montemayor, Anna Zivian, Annet Pauwelussen, April Brown, Brian Francis O’Neill, Christine Knott, Cinda P. Scott, Corey Ridings, Gerald G. Singh, Grant Blume, Harriet Harden-Davies, Harshitha Sai Viswanathan, Hazem Almassry, Hekia Bodwitch, Jessica Brown, Leah M. Fusco, Leopoldo Gerhardinger, Lina María Saavedra-Díaz, Matthew J. Schneider, Mia Strand, Oliver Tiliouine, Peter J.S. Jones, Randall S. Abate, Russell Fielding, Ruth Akorli, Sarah Gutzmann, Sherry Pictou, Suchinta Arif, Wilf Swartz, Yoshitaka Ota, Yulan Kim
• 2026

The Ocean Equity Index (OEI)[1] is a newly proposed framework conceived as a rapid assessment of ocean initiatives with respect to their “status and progress toward” social equity, allowing for comparison across regions via a quantitative score. The Index, presented as a sum of twelve criteria scored between zero to three, is presented as a “standardized and transparent approach for measuring ocean equity”; yet, its construction is highly flawed, its scores are misleading and, rather than measuring equity, its application will further delegitimize incidents of inequity that do not fit the OEI’s scoring scheme. Given the pitfalls of standardized indices undermining the struggles for social justice and environmental conservation[2], we urge the authors to critically reassess their approach to indexing ocean equity and refrain from further application of the OEI.

Classification, colonialism, Environmental Justice, Environmental Law and Policy, Human Dimensions of Oceans: From a Sociological Perspective, Inequity, Ocean Justice, Political Economy, Scientific Knowledge, Social Equity

Perspective

In Plasticene Seas: Towards Equitable Solutions Concerning Societal Plastics Impacts on Marine Mammals

The oceans are pervasively polluted by plastics, marking the onset of the "Plasticene era." Marine mammals face severe threats from plastic debris, resulting in injury, death, and bioaccumulation of harmful substances. Effective, equitable strategies involving community engagement and sustainable practices are essential to combat this pressing environmental crisis and protect marine biodiversity.

Artisanal Fisheries, Biodiversity Conservation, Capitalism, colonialism, Environmental Justice, multispecies justice, Ocean Justice, Pollution, Scientific Knowledge, Social Equity

Perspective

Coastal Energy Equity in the Sundarbans Surrounding the Rampal Power Project

In southwestern Bangladesh, the Rampal coal power project has become a symbol of the tensions between development and environmental protection near the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. Although promoted as a pathway to energy security, the project raises serious concerns about ecological damage, livelihood loss, and growing inequalities for local communities. Drawing on a critical environmental justice perspective and connecting it to the scholarship on ocean equity, this essay examines how uneven power relations shape the distribution of environmental risks and benefits in coastal Bangladesh.

Activism, Biodiversity Conservation, displacement, dispossession, Environmental Justice, Inequity, Ocean Justice, Political Economy, Pollution, Social Equity

Perspective

Rethinking Caste and Fisheries Governance on the South Indian Coast

In Devanampattinam, Tamil Nadu, a fishing community initially protested against rising inequality from new fishing technologies. Over time, social hierarchies emerged within this community as access to capital and political influence became concentrated among a few. This evolving dynamic highlights the complexities of caste and governance in coastal settings, emphasizing the need for inclusive policies.

Climate Change Adaptation, dispossession, Environmental Justice, Gender, Inequity, Intersectionality, Political Economy, Small Scale Fisheries

Perspective

PrepCom III and the Politics of Procedural Justice in the BBNJ Agreement

The United Nations discussions on ocean justice highlight procedural inequities in global decision-making, especially for small island developing states (SIDS). The BBNJ Agreement's implementation phase raises concerns about fair participation, resource distribution, and institutional design, affecting SIDS’ ability to influence outcomes. The upcoming COP1 will test equity in governance and procedural justice.

Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Justice, Environmental Law and Policy, Equitable Data Access, Inequity, International Relations, Ocean Justice, Scientific Knowledge

Perspective

When the Ocean Turns Red: Tackling Distributional and Representational Injustices in Sea Urchin Policy in Hokkaido

In fall 2021, a harmful algal bloom devastated fisheries in eastern Hokkaido, particularly impacting sea urchin harvesters in Akkeshi, with losses estimated at 10 billion yen. Existing policies inadequately supported these local fishers, highlighting environmental injustices. Effective climate adaptation should empower local communities, incorporating their knowledge into policy design for equitable future outcomes.

Artisanal Fisheries, Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Justice, Environmental Law and Policy, Fisheries, Ocean Justice, Small Scale Fisheries, Social Equity

Perspective

Diluting Ocean Equity with the Ocean Equity Index

Ocean equity risks dilution when reduced to simplified metrics. The Ocean Equity Index claims to measure equity but instead flattens complex social realities into a single percentage, overlooking critical dimensions such as anti-subordination, decolonization, and systemic inequality. Without stronger conceptual and methodological grounding, such tools may weaken rather than advance struggles for ocean justice.

Environmental Justice, Human Dimensions of Oceans: From a Sociological Perspective, Ocean Justice, Political Economy, Scientific Knowledge, Social Equity

Perspective

Feeding Global Markets, Starving Local Health: Fishmeal Production and Fish Oil Production and Health Concerns in The Gambia

In The Gambia, fishmeal and fish oil factories are feeding global markets while compromising local health and food security. Drawing on community testimonies and policy insight, this post examines how industrial pollution, weakened regulation, and export-oriented production deepen inequalities in coastal communities. It calls for a blue justice approach that centers equity, sustainability, and community well-being in national fisheries governance.

Environmental Justice, Fisheries, Political Economy, Pollution, The Gambia

Fieldwork

“We are not afraid and even if we were afraid we cannot show we are afraid because then that is giving them power”: Charter cities in Roatan, Honduras

In Roatán, Honduras, the ZEDE initiative PROSPERA exposes stark contrasts between luxury and local poverty. Promised jobs brought only temporary work, community division, and loss of ancestral land. As residents organize protests and face intimidation, they continue asserting their rights and dignity. Their struggle reflects enduring colonial patterns in development that shape social and economic realities across Latin America.

Environmental Justice, Inequity, Latin America, Political Economy, Social Equity

Fieldwork

Factory Farms, Environmental Injustice, and Industrial Extraction in Coastal North Carolina

On North Carolina's coastal plain, industrial livestock operations come with great environmental and public health risk. In an age of climate change and loose government regulation, it is low income and minority communities that are most likely burdened with the consequences.

Environmental Justice, Pollution, Racial Capitalism

CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BLOG BY OCEAN NEXUS

Categories

Topics

Authors

The Ocean Equity Index is flawed, misleading, and lacks validation

In Plasticene Seas: Towards Equitable Solutions Concerning Societal Plastics Impacts on Marine Mammals

Coastal Energy Equity in the Sundarbans Surrounding the Rampal Power Project

Rethinking Caste and Fisheries Governance on the South Indian Coast

PrepCom III and the Politics of Procedural Justice in the BBNJ Agreement

When the Ocean Turns Red: Tackling Distributional and Representational Injustices in Sea Urchin Policy in Hokkaido

Diluting Ocean Equity with the Ocean Equity Index

Feeding Global Markets, Starving Local Health: Fishmeal Production and Fish Oil Production and Health Concerns in The Gambia

“We are not afraid and even if we were afraid we cannot show we are afraid because then that is giving them power”: Charter cities in Roatan, Honduras

Factory Farms, Environmental Injustice, and Industrial Extraction in Coastal North Carolina

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