The Ocean Health Index (OHI) is a collaborative initiative between Conservation International and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at the University of California Santa Barbara. The objectives of the initiative are to 1) develop annual assessments of all coastal states and territories using global databases, and 2) support national and subnational regions to perform independent assessments by incorporating their own data, conditions, and values into the OHI framework. The method has also been used for ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction.
OHI is the first integrated that measures the health of coupled human-ocean ecosystems in different contexts by accommodating local environmental characteristics, cultural priorities, and information availability and quality. It assesses a suite of benefits the ocean provides to humans using the best available information and expresses complex socio-ecological relationships and context-specific targets as easily understandable accessible scores, on a scale from 0 to 100. A score of 100 indicates that region region is successfully meeting its reference points and targets for sustainability.
The OHI framework is quantitative, transparent, flexible and repeatable, so management can track and respond to changes through time. Using cutting edge open science and technology, OHI can advance the ability of regions to set integrated targets for the health of their coasts and ocean, measure progress over time, and use that information to to strengthen marine policies and resource management at global, regional, national, and local scales.
Implementation and adoption of OHI at any scale of management includes four iterative and interdependent phases:
1) Develop capacities: Learn about OHI and how its framework can be applied to a specific context, or learn by improving upon a previous assessment.
2) Create plans: engage stakeholders, determine objectives, establish coordinating governance mechanisms (working groups), assemble a technical team.
3) Conduct the ocean health assessment: establish SMART management targets, incorporate regional valuers, reference points and targets and calculate scores using open-science tools and methods, which include the OHI Toolbox, R Studio, and Github
4) Inform decision-making: engage stakeholders to test management scenarios, determine spatial and thematic priorities, reach agreements among stakeholders, and implement agreements
OHI supports ocean governance in several ways. First, by adopting, developing, and using the OHI framework, user countries can work towards meeting SDG Target 14.2, as the process helps strengthen resilience vis-a-vis specific pressures, identifies priority areas for restoration, and supports ecosystem-based management to achieve healthy and productive oceans. Second, the OHI process fosters participatory decision-making processes by engaging multiple stakeholders throughout design and implementation of the assessment; helps countries align local efforts with regional and global initiatives; supports the development of effective ocean policies, strategies, plans and regulations; and promotes adequate institutional arrangements for the integrated management of ocean and coastal resources.
Progress reports
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
- Integrated Coastal Management
- Ecosystem-based Adaptation
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
Type of commitment
- Scientific, socioeconomic and interdisciplinary research
- Research capacity development
- Data access and sharing
- Training and professional development
- Scientific cooperation
- Actions that support SIDS and LDCs
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Type of commitment
- Activities to raise awareness of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the sustainable development of oceans and seas, in particular UNCLOS, its Implementing Agreements and other relevant ocean-related instruments and promote their effective im
- Activities to develop the capacity of States towards broader participation in and effective implementation of UNCLOS and its implementing Agreements
- Strengthening ocean governance, for example through the development of a national ocean policy or regional ocean policy
12/2020
By 2020, develop and publish four additional annual OHI Global assessments (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) for 221 EEZs around the world
12/2020
By 2020, develop capacity and support the development of at least 15 OHI independent assessment processes worldwide
Staff / Technical expertise
A dedicated team of 8 scientist and project managers, in addition to field staff in at least 14 countries
In-kind contribution
scientific development of tools, methods, and mechanisms for implementation, including the OHI toolbox; capacity development trainings; and technical, management, and governance support.
