Researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) are participating in the development of the Ocean Equity Index, a tool published in Nature that allows the evaluation of Blue Economy activities, such as fishing, facilitating its use by administrations, organizations and local communities. (Autor: Mireia Ochoa)
An international team of researchers has published the article “The Ocean Equity Index” in Nature, presenting the first global tool designed to measure and improve equity in ocean-related initiatives and policies. The project, with significant participation from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), showcases the leadership of Spanish research in marine governance.
The Ocean Equity Index (OEI) arose from the need to move from theoretical commitments to equity to practical mechanisms that allow for its measurement and strengthen fairness in ocean management. It is based on 12 criteria—related to rights, participation, benefit-sharing, and improvement actions—scored from 0 to 3. It is an accessible and adaptable tool, useful for administrations, organizations, local communities, and researchers, and applicable in areas such as fisheries, marine conservation, and offshore energy.
Six international case studies demonstrated its usefulness for evaluating projects, monitoring their progress, strengthening accountability, and promoting fairer management. The participation of the EqualSea Lab–CRETUS (USC) team, linked to the ERC Consolidator Grant EqualSea project, and researcher Noelia Zafra-Calvo (BC3), strengthens Spain’s contribution to the study.
According to Sebastián Villasante, director of EqualSea Lab, the OEI “allows us to objectively assess where we stand and what we need to improve” in terms of ocean equity. Zafra-Calvo, for her part, emphasizes that the tool can drive change toward more equitable oceans, establishing itself as an international benchmark for integrating social and environmental justice into ocean governance.
References: Blythe, J.L., Claudet, J., Gill, D. et al. The Ocean Equity Index. Nature (2026). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09976-y