Measuring Progress toward a Blue Economy

A Blue Economy is the establishment of ocean sectors that are socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable. Prioritizing social equity is what sets it apart as a new and transformative approach, and our choices of indicators – what and how we measure progress – are critical to making sure that we are advancing toward our intended goals. This chapter critically reviews social, environmental, and economic indicators to help guide Blue Economy plans. In every case, it is important to ask who and what may be left out of our indicators, and to not let our limited measurements become our aspirational goals.