An Index to Assess the Health and Benefits of the Global Ocean

Authors

Benjamin S. Halpern, University of California
Catherine Longo, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Darren Hardy, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Karen L. McLeon, Oregon State University
Jameal F. Samhouri, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Steven K. Katona, Conservation International
Kristen Kleisner, University of British Columbia
Sarah E. Lester, University of California
Jennifer O'Leary, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Marla Ranelletti, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Kendra L. Daly, University of South FloridaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11397

Abstract

The ocean plays a critical role in supporting human well-being, from providing food, livelihoods and recreational opportunities to regulating the global climate. Sustainable management aimed at maintaining the flow of a broad range of benefits from the ocean requires a comprehensive and quantitative method to measure and monitor the health of coupled human–ocean systems. We created an index comprising ten diverse public goals for a healthy coupled human–ocean system and calculated the index for every coastal country. Globally, the overall index score was 60 out of 100 (range 36–86), with developed countries generally performing better than developing countries, but with notable exceptions. Only 5% of countries scored higher than 70, whereas 32% scored lower than 50. The index provides a powerful tool to raise public awareness, direct resource management, improve policy and prioritize scientific research.

Comments

Complete list of authors: Andrew A. Rosenberg, Courtney Scarborough, Elizabeth R. Selig, Benjamin D. Best, Daniel R. Brumbaugh, F. Stuart Chapin, Larry B. Crowder, Scott C. Doney, Cristiane Elfes, Michael J. Fogarty, Steven D. Gaines, Kelsey I. Jacobsen, Leah Bunce Karrer, Heather M. Leslie, Elizabeth Neeley, Daniel Pauly, Stephen Polasky, Bud Ris, Kevin St Martin, Gregory S. Stone, U. Rashid Sumaila, Dirk Zeller

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Nature, v. 488, p. 615-620

Scholar Commons Citation

Halpern, Benjamin S.; Longo, Catherine; Hardy, Darren; McLeon, Karen L.; Samhouri, Jameal F.; Katona, Steven K.; Kleisner, Kristen; Lester, Sarah E.; O'Leary, Jennifer; Ranelletti, Marla; and Daly, Kendra L., "An Index to Assess the Health and Benefits of the Global Ocean" (2012). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 861.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/861