General Acknowledgements

Field Value
Circular ID TG-0.3
Version 1.0
Badge Core
Status Draft
Last Updated February 2026

This Circular documents the partnership history, institutional contributions, and individual contributors behind the Technical Guidance. It sits alongside the other front-matter circulars (TG-0.1 through TG-0.8) and has no prerequisites or downstream dependencies.

1. Outcome

This Circular provides attribution for the Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting, documenting the partnership history, institutional contributions, and individual contributors who have shaped the development of ocean accounting across its first and second editions.

2. Requirements

None -- this Circular serves as a standalone reference.

3. Acknowledgements

The Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting is a product of extensive collaboration and consultation between experts and institutions in the fields of ocean science, statistics, economics, and public policy. The authors express their gratitude to all contributors and reviewers for their valuable inputs and feedback.

3.1 Global Ocean Accounts Partnership

The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) represents a commitment to improving, harmonising, and applying ocean-related data in accordance with international standards and in keeping with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Partnership was established in response to growing recognition that no single organisation has the mandate or influence to improve how we measure, benefit from, or protect the ocean -- effective ocean accounting requires collaboration across levels, countries, disciplines, and sectors.

The GOAP Secretariat is hosted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is a founding partner. ESCAP initiated the first Asia and the Pacific Regional Expert Workshop on Ocean Accounts in August 2018 and supported pilot studies in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Samoa, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam during 2019.

The GOAP Panel of Technical Experts comprises specialists in various aspects of ocean accounting from around the world, working to improve our understanding of economic and scientific factors affecting the health of the ocean and to generate information that will make more effective action possible. The Panel identifies new challenges in ocean accounting, provides advisory assistance to countries undertaking ocean accounts, and defines priority areas for technical guidance development.

The UN Statistical Commission requested ESCAP and UN Environment to take the lead in developing guidance for ocean statistics. The Technical Guidance also provides input to, and benefits from, the revision of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) and the development of SEEA for Oceans.

3.2 Institutional Contributors

The following institutions have made substantial contributions to the development of the Technical Guidance and ocean accounting more broadly.

Founding and hosting institutions

United Nations system

International organisations

Research institutions and consultancies

Government agencies and national statistical offices

3.3 Individual Contributors

3.3.1 Coordinating and Lead Authors (First Edition)

The first edition of the Technical Guidance was coordinated and led by:

3.3.2 Contributing Authors and Editors (First Edition)

Substantial written and editorial contributions to the first edition were made by:

3.3.3 Reviewers (First Edition)

Valuable contributions and advice were received during the development of the first edition from:

3.3.4 ESCAP Ocean Accounts Pilot Participants

The Technical Guidance benefited greatly from the enthusiasm and technical excellence of the participants in the ESCAP pilot studies.

China

Chen Shang, Guo Yue, Huang Qi, Jiang Hongyou, Li Feixue, Li Li, Luo Huilin, Shi Jianbin, Tan Lun, Wang Qian, Xing Wenxiu, Yang Yang, Ye Haiyuan, Yuan Xiutang, Zhang Hongke, Zhang Qiufeng, Zhang Yunlan, Zhao Peng, Zhu Chunquan, Zhu Zuhao, Zuo Ping

Malaysia

Aziz S., Azizan Abu Samah, Husni Alhan bin Md Salimun, Illyani Ibrahim, Ismail bin Abdul Rahman, Jillian Ooi, Khazlita Adzim binti Abdol Aziz, Loh Kar Hoe, Mary George, Rizman Idid, Sahadev Sharma, Siti Zakiah binti Muhamad Isa, Sumiani Yusoff, Wafa, Wee Cheah

Samoa

Asiata Gerard Anapu, Frances Reupena, Kitiona Pogi, Leota Aliielua Salani, Papalii Benjamin Sila, Robert Ah Sam, Silafau Paul Meredith

Thailand

Arthit Kraaomkaew, Kanjana Phumalee, Katesaraporn Wimonrat, Krisada Bamrungwong, Narissara Chanpet, Pinsak Suraswadi, Ukkrit Satapoomin, Yuwanan Santitaweeroek

Viet Nam

Dang Thi Phuong Ha, Hoang Viet Anh, Kim Thi Thuy Ngoc, Le Thi Le Quyen, Ngo Nhu Ve, Nguyen The Chinh

3.3.5 Workshop and Dialogue Participants

Asia and the Pacific Regional Expert Workshop on Ocean Accounts, Bangkok, August 2018

Zeba Ali (Canada), Atifah Binti Mohd Alwi (Malaysia), Wycliff Bakeo (Vanuatu), Om Bhandari (Thailand), Caridad Canales (ESCAP), Narissara Chenpet (Thailand), Youjin Choe (UNITAR), Ratana Chuenpagdee (Canada), Daniel Clarke (ESCAP), Elisa Maria da Silva (Timor Leste), Faviana Bosco De Sousa (Timor Leste), Sangita Dubey (UN-FAO), Maria Corazon Ebarvia (PEMSEA), Mark Elisha Eigenraam (IDEEA Group), Achmad Fahrudin (Indonesia), Giuseppe "Joe" Filoso (Canada), Eugenia Merayo Garcia (IIED), Mary George (University of Malaya), Gaetano Grilli (Cefas UK), Kavinda Gunasekara (AIT), Rikke Munk Hansen (ESCAP), A.K. Enamul Haque (Bangladesh), Ampai Harakunarak (Thailand), Natalie Harms (ESCAP), Shanaka Herath (University of Wollongong), Jeremy Hills (Climalysis), Asaad Irawan (Indonesia), Md. Rafiqul Islam (Bangladesh), Philip James (The Pacific Community), Soparatana Jarusombat (Thailand), Thitiwat Kaew-Amdee (Thailand), Ahmed Khan (IIED), Sooyeob Kim (ESCAP), Thi Thuy Ngoc Kim (Vietnam), Praewpan Kongprakhon (Thailand), Alan Frendy Koropitan (IPB Indonesia), Bimlesh Krishna (Fiji), Carolyn Kumul (Papua New Guinea), Anastasia Rita Tisiana Dwi Kuswardani (Indonesia), Feixue Li (Nanjing University), Jian Liang (China), Xinming Liu (China), Yilun Luo (ESCAP), Ilham Atho Mohamed (Maldives), Essam Mohammed (IIED), Jose Luiz Moutinho (AIR Centre), Putri Ari Hendra Murti (ASEAN), Aminath Mushfiqa Ibrahim (Maldives), Sanjesh Naidu (ESCAP), Elizabeth Nguyen (AIT), Vivienne Rhea Padura (De La Salle Lipa), Jingjue Pei (ESCAP), Zhao Peng (China), Xuan Luong Pham (Viet Nam), Kanjana Phumalee (Thailand), Rosimeiry Gomes Portela (Conservation International), Somyod Prajunban (Thailand), Ismail Bin Abdul Rahman (Malaysia), Insang Ryu (Republic of Korea), Yuwanan Santitaweeroek (Thailand), Roger Sayre (USA), Christina Schönleber (APRU), Sri Setyarini (Indonesia), Gerald Singh (University of British Columbia), Sirod Sirisup (Thailand), Vong Sok (ASEAN), Suthasinee Sontirat (Thailand), François Soulard (Canada), Sanjay Srivastava (ESCAP), Andy Steven (Australia), Sarah Taylor (SOLSTICE-WIO), Kelera Lawenitekini Tokalau (Fiji), Christopher Charles Tremewan (APRU), Engr. Md Waji Ullah (Bangladesh), Gemma Van Halderen (ESCAP), Michelle Voyer (Australian Centre for Ocean Resources & Security), Katinka Weinberger (ESCAP), Janaka J Wijetunge (University of Peradeniya), and Frank Yrle (AIT).

First Global Dialogue on Ocean Accounting, Sydney, November 2019

Ethan Addicott (Yale University), Umaira Ahmed (Maldives), Rear Admiral (Retd) Mohammad Khurshed Alam (Bangladesh), Gerard Tuii Anapu (Samoa), Nafha Aujaaz (Maldives), Khazlita Adzim Abdol Aziz (Malaysia), Zak Baillie (Australia), Anthony Bennie (Australia), Crystal Bradley (Australia), Frances Brown (Samoa), Peter Burneth (Australian National University), Mario Cabral (Timor-Leste), Wee Cheah (Malaysia), The Chinh Nguyen (Viet Nam), Charles Colgan (Center for the Blue Economy), Estefânia Luís Simon da Costa (Timor-Leste), Bikash Kishore Das (Bangladesh), Subramanyam Divvaakar (ESCAP), Jose Ferrer (UNSW), Ken Findlay (Cape Peninsula University of Technology), Keldi Forbes (Canada), Mary George (University of Malaya), Yimnang Golbuu (Palau), Acácio Guterres (Timor-Leste), Rikke Munk Hansen (ESCAP), Shanaka Herath (University of Technology Sydney), Michael Huang (Ocean Policy Research Institute), Vivian Ilarina (Philippines), Siti Zakiah binti Muhamad Isa (Malaysia), Musrat Meh Jabin (Bangladesh), Phil James (Independent marine economist), Hongyou Jiang (China), Wenjia Jin (IUCN), David Keith (UNSW), Arthit Kraaomkaew (Thailand), Bimlesh Krishna (Fiji), Fredrick Kuelinad (Papua New Guinea), Thaung Kyaing (Myanmar), Glenn-Marie Lange (World Bank), Chhan Lay (Cambodia), Feixue Li (Nanjing University), Phuong Loan Dang (Viet Nam), MD Abdul Mannan (Bangladesh), Laurence McCook (World Wide Fund for Nature), Alistair McIlgorm (Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security), Reiss McLeod (IDEEA Group), Paul David Meredith (Samoa), Ben Milligan (UNSW), Pakeer Mohideen Amza (Sri Lanka), Niyangama Balasooriyage Monty Ranatunge (Sri Lanka), Shafiya Naeem (Maldives), Sanjesh Naidu (ESCAP), Thi Thuy Ngoc Kim (Viet Nam), Kien Nguyen (Viet Nam), Ngo Nhu Ve (Viet Nam), Eduardo Pereira (Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability), Stephanie Perkiss (University of Wollongong), Kanjana Phumalee (Thailand), Kitiona Pogi (Samoa), Prapasri Pongwattana (Thailand), John Lourenze Poquiz (Philippines), Ismail bin Abdul Rahman (Malaysia), Yesheng CUI Raymond (UNSW), Russel Reichelt (Australia), Rear Admiral Ruwan Perera (Sri Lanka), Leota Aliielua Salani (Samoa), Husni Alhan Md Salimun (Malaysia), Robert Ah Sam (Samoa), Azizan Bin Abu Samah (Malaysia), Yuwanan Santitaweeroek (Thailand), Ukkrit Satapoomin (Thailand), Nelson Shem (Vanuatu), Jianbin Shi (The Paulson Institute), Papali'i Benjamin Sila (Samoa), Rodolfo Soares (Timor-Leste), François Soulard (Canada), Andy Steven (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), Pinsak Suraswadi (Thailand), Sarah Taylor (National Oceanography Centre), Tony Harrison Tevi (Vanuatu), Van Thanh Nguyen (Viet Nam), Gemma Van Halderen (ESCAP), Michael Vardon (Australian National University), Katesaraporn Wimonrat (Thailand), Peng Zhao (China), Peng Zheng (DaLian Ocean University), and Ping Zuo (Nanjing University).

3.3.6 Second Edition Authors and Reviewers

[To be completed upon finalisation of all circulars.]

3.4 Funding and Support

The ESCAP pilot studies in China, Malaysia, Samoa, Thailand, and Viet Nam were funded by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The GOAP Secretariat is hosted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW), which provides institutional support for the coordination of partnership activities and the development of this Technical Guidance.

[Additional funding acknowledgements to be confirmed.]

4. Circular Publication Information

Role Contributors
Author [To be confirmed]
Reviewers [To be confirmed]

5. References